It is compulsory on the full month of Ramadan and voluntarily on other days of the year as, for example, every Monday and Thursday, the 9th and 10th on the month of ZuElhejja for those not on hajj, and the three middle days of each Hijra calendar month.
Ramadan
the ninth month of the Muslim year, during which strict fasting is observed from dawn to sunset.
The daily fasting period is the day time from Dawn to sunset. Through this period you are not allowed to eat, drink, smoke, or to practice intercourse sex. After sunset, it is necessary to break the fasting by drinking, eating, and/or any other activities you do during the normal not fasting days.
Yes, a Muslim can eat during the night from sunset until just before dawn
Adult, sane, healthy Muslims must fast from dawn to sunset during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Islamic fasting means refraining from eating, drinking, and marital intimacy between dawn and sunset. The ill and travelers are excused from fasting, but must make up the days they missed later in the year. Those who are permanently unable to fast may buy food to feed the poor, instead.
Muslims wake up an hour or two before dawn and eat. Then they fast until the sun sets. They then break their fast. Contrary to some beliefs, Muslims do not "pig out" all night, then sleep all day. Muslims rest at night just as usual, and may take a nap or two during the day to keep their strength up.
Ramadan is the holy time that requires fasting from dawn to sunset for Muslims. It is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is observed by fasting from food, drink, smoking, and other physical needs during daylight hours.
they believe it the 5 pillars of islam--shahada, salat (prayer), zakah(charity), hajj (pilgrimage), sawm (fasting) they pray 5 times a day-1 before dawn, 2 noon, 3 evening/afternoon, 4 before sunset. 5 after sunset modesty is big --physically and mentally
Of course you can but not recommended because; during fasting in Ramadan; you are not allowed to practice sex (oral or intercourse sex) with your marriage partner during the fasting period (during daytime from dawn to sunset).
Muslims are allowed to eat before dawn, known as suhoor, and break their fast after sunset, known as iftar, during Ramadan. They abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset as an act of worship and self-discipline.
From just before Dawn
Dawn is when the sun is coming up, sunset is when the sun is going down