Serag said this festival is similar to the Christian celebration of Christmas. Families and friends gather to exchange gifts and celebrate the benefits of Ramadan. However, their are exemptions for the sick, young children, pregnant women and travelers. Fasting is one of five pillars, or principles, of the Muslim religion. Serag said some people think the word Allah is a separate god from the Christian religion when actually it is the same God, only by a different name.
Prayer is another pillar of the Muslim religion.
All Muslims pray in Arabic, irregardless of their native tongue, and face in the direction of Mecca when they pray. The next pillar is charity. Serag said it is obligatory for Muslims to give to the poor and needy in the community. During Ramadan, a Muslim should give the price of a meal to the poor in the community for each day that he fasts. After all, the fasting Muslim is only eating two meals a day instead of three during Ramadan.