Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is one of the holiest months of the year for Muslims in the city and around the world.

Traditionally, Muslims fast — abstain from food and water — from sunup to sundown every day for a month.

In Bay Ridge this weekend, festive Ramadan decorations are up to mark the beginning Saturday, including the crescent moon, a symbol of Islam.

Muslim community members are busy stocking up on dates, a traditional food for breaking the fast, at Alarabi Market on Fifth Avenue.

“What’s really sacred about fasting is to be sincere to God,” Moemen Salem, an Egyptian-New Yorker who’s been in Bay Ridge for around three decades, said. “It is washing you internally in order to be a better person, and not only for yourself, but for everybody in the community as well.”

Ramadan is a spiritual bootcamp for Muslims — a holy month when Muslims pray a lot and read the Quran. They also spend a lot of time in their community — whether it’s at a mosque or visiting with family and friends every night to break their fast together for Iftar meals.

“I’m feeling very excited, very happy to finally reach the month of Ramadan. I’m very happy to be praying in the mosque,” David Shyti said. “Here in Bay Ridge, we have so many Muslims here, and especially at night, we love to get together. We pray together, we eat together, you know, it’s a really amazing time.”

Shyti converted to Islam a few years ago, and says every year Ramadan gets easier for him.

Muslims also give back during Ramadan through acts of charity and volunteering in an effort to do more and be better.

“Fasting is not just about staying away from food, but it’s also purifying your soul, making sure you’re staying away from all bad things: cursing, getting into fights. So I feel like if people can take that lesson, being a good person,” he said. “It only comes once a year, you know, it’s only one month — you gotta make the best of it as much as we can.”

Ramadan is about faith and unity. Being united with community members — no matter their faith — is what guides Salem during Ramadan.

“The community in general, it is really inviting, and [we’re] calling every member in the community to come together, band together, help people in need, and also be even better with your neighbors, regardless what they believe,” Salem said.

Ramadan will last until March 29 this year.

To greet a Muslim community member during the month, the thing to say is: “Ramadan Mubarak” which means “Happy Ramadan.”