Clare Fox-Rashed enjoys the community bonding of Ramadan

Adult Muslims have pledged to give up food and drink, smoking and sexual activity during the daylight hours of the 29 to 30 day fast.

But despite the fast sounding like a hard challenge for many non-Muslim people, a recent convert to the faith has described it as being an enjoyable experience.

Clare Fox-Rashed, 30, a schoolteacher from Cardiff, said that Ramadan was a good time for bonding with family and friends, but admitted that giving up her daily cup of tea was a challenge.

"It is wonderful because everyone gets together in the evening to break their fast," said the mother-of-one.

"It really is a great time because people get to be with their friends and family and enjoy the evenings.

we try our hardest to carry out good deeds and be charitable during Ramadan Clare Fox-Rashed

"It is quite hard during the day not to eat and drink but it gives us time to reflect on things.

"And of course, we try our hardest to carry out good deeds and be charitable during Ramadan," she said.

Mrs Fox-Rashed, who was brought up in the Christian faith, converted to Islam in 1997 after spending six weeks living with a Muslim family in Palestine.

"It [fasting] is a hard thing to do, but I wouldn't call it a challenge because I enjoy doing it," she said.

"At the end of Ramadan, I really miss it because it has such a big part on your life and it is a good time to meet your friends and family.

"I think a lot of non-Muslims think that fasting is very hard and quite unusual, but there is something similar in Christianity with Lent, although many people don't follow it strictly.

"But it isn't too hard at all - the only thing that I find quite a challenge is going without my daily cup of tea," she laughed.

"It is all in preparation for the festival of Eid ul-Fitr, which is a time we all look forward to," she added.

Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, giving people the opportunity to dress up to visit the Mosque for prayer, and pay visits to family and friends for celebratory meals.