The Holy month of Ramadhan

باسم الله الرحمن الرحيم,
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

[2:183] O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation.
In a few days, with the sighting of the new moon, the holy month of Ramadhan shall begin. Fasting (saum in Arabic) is mandatory for all able Muslims. This is a commandment of Allah written in the Glorious Qur'aan. Fasting during the Holy month of Ramadhan is one of the pillars upon which al-Islam stands.
Each day of the lunar month of Ramadhan before the sun rises Muslims make their mandatory prayers (Salaat/Salaah), eat, and then begin to fast (not eating, drinking, cursing, nor indulging in negative activities or talk) until the sun sets. We are required to read 1/30th of the Glorious Qur'aan which is called Juz. As well, we Muslims revisit the fundamentals of our way of life that we call al-Islam.
There are many health(physical) benefits to fasting. As well, the mind benefits. This Holy Month is a period of mental, spiritual, & physical fine tuning for the Muslims. As the body is purged and cleaned the mind is being fed Allah's words the our book of Balance, The Glorious Qur'aan. Because the digestive system is at rest it doesn't require large amounts of oxygen. Being that it is such a long period of rest, the brain is receiving so much more oxygen rich blood for an extended amount of time. This allows the brain to perform at it's best. The words of the Kitabul-Majid, the Qur'aan (being broken down into 30 parts) are input at a mathematical rate selected for maximum absorption and with optimal clarity.
The natural high achieved is like nothing you can imagine. It is a pure rush that will make you appreciate this entire world. You will walk away hating nothing Allah has Created.
The true benefits of fasting during Ramadhan will bring you to harmony with all in creation. You will begin to understand what is around you, thereby loving every creature for it's purpose in the grand scheme of things. Most of all you will begin to know yourself and therefore you will begin to know your Creator, the Wonderful Originator of All things known & unknown to us.
The following are more Qur'aanic verses concerning the Holy Month of Ramadhan(also pronounced Ramazan):

[2:184] Specific days (are designated for fasting); if one is ill or traveling, an equal number of other days may be substituted. Those who can fast, but with great difficulty, may substitute feeding one poor person for each day of breaking the fast. If one volunteers (more righteous works), it is better. But fasting is the best for you, if you only knew.

[2:185] Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. GOD wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify GOD for guiding you, and to express your appreciation.

[2:186] When My servants ask you about Me, I am always near. I answer their prayers when they pray to Me. The people shall respond to Me and believe in Me, in order to be guided.

[2:187] Permitted for you is sexual intercourse with your wives during the nights of fasting. They are the keepers of your secrets, and you are the keepers of their secrets. GOD knew that you used to betray your souls, and He has redeemed you, and has pardoned you. Henceforth, you may have intercourse with them, seeking what GOD has permitted for you. You may eat and drink until the white thread of light becomes distinguishable from the dark thread of night at dawn. Then, you shall fast until sunset. Sexual intercourse is prohibited if you decide to retreat to the Masjid (during the last ten days of Ramadan). These are GOD's laws; you shall not transgress
them. GOD thus clarifies His revelations for the people, that they may attain salvation.

Following this post I will post various lessons & speeches on Islam that should enlighten Muslims and Non-Muslims. Some of the material comes from Shiite, some from Sunni, Ansari schools of thought, while some from a combination of various schools of thought. Some of the post will be my own original material which I written over the past 25 years.
My background as a Muslim is as follows: I am now 44 years old. I grew up in a household of both Christian & Islamic influence.
While my mother was Pentacostal she sent my siblings and my self to a Catholic church. I was the only one who did not have to go to Catholic school. However, I did go every Weds. for religious instruction in Catholicism.
At home my oldest brother was Muslim. He along with quite a few of his friends from our neighborhood were a part of the Nation of Islam. I remember his friends Akbar, Shabazz, and others whom I listen to and was influenced by. On our block there was also a brother they called Skip who's father moved from the mid-west to NYC with Malcolm X (Malik Shabazz). These people influenced my oldest brother and therefore influenced me to lean towards Islam at a young age.
I remember when I first saw a Qur'aan. My brother was reading it and I asked him "what is that book you're reading?" and, he replied "the Holy Qur'aan". He then went on to explain a little about it to me. It was at that point that the seed was planted in me.
Of course I was bombarded by this society's images of Christianity & Catholicism but, because of that seed planted within my mind I never allowed my mind to be seduced by it. I kept an open mind sought the truth concerning religion.
As well, when I saw a clip of the assassination of Malcolm X I had to find out what he did to upset people to the point that they would kill him. This made me really want to know everything I could about Islam.
Eventually I went on to study al-Islam under various teachers and schools of thought. Along with my studies I was trained to become an Imam. This included speech writing and public speaking. Oral communications in college added to my arsenal.