What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic (hijri) calendar and one of the holiest periods of worship for Muslims. The month lasts a period of 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the moon, and appears to shift forward approximately 11 days each year as the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle instead of the Gregorian calendar we commonly use today.
When is Ramadan 2025?
This year, Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of Saturday 1st March 2025, and end on the evening of Sunday 30th March 2025, depending on the sighting of the moon.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic (hijri) calendar. The month appears to shift forward 11 days each year in the Gregorian calendar. This is because the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle.
You can find up-to-date information on the Ramadan timetable.
What is the significance of Ramadan?
The month of Ramadan marks the period in which the holy Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Importantly, it’s also the month in which Muslims practice one of the five pillars of Islam, Sawm, or fasting.
Fasting the month of Ramadan is obligatory for every Muslim who has passed the age of puberty and is in good health.
During this precious month, the reward for a Muslim’s good deeds are multiplied, and all are encouraged to strengthen their relationship with Allah, give Sadaqah, pay their Zakat Fitrah (Zakat ul Fitr) and ask for forgiveness.
Why is Ramadan important to Muslims?
Ramadan is important to Muslims for a variety of reasons. The most significant of which is that it is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is required of every Muslim for every year of their lives as long as they are passed the age of puberty and are in good health.
During this period, due to its sanctity, Muslims aim to strengthen their relationship with their creator, read and reflect on the Qur’an, strive for betterment of their character, benefit those in need and the people around them and ask for forgiveness for their transgressions.
This Hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shows the great reward in fasting:
“Allah says: Fasting is for me I shall reward for it.”
How is Ramadan celebrated?
Muslims celebrate the arrival of the blessed month of Ramadan, which offers the opportunity for purification, a reevaluation of one’s life, and the chance to draw closer to Allah.
Many families decorate their homes in time for Ramadan with lights and banners, in order to create a special and celebratory atmosphere.
Friends and relatives reach out to one another to offer their congratulations in reaching the Holy month of Ramadan, with greetings of ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ and ‘Ramadan Kareem’.
During the holy month, family and friends also gather at Iftar parties in which they break their fast together. At Iftar time, Allah (SWT) shows special mercy and love to those who have been fasting, and especially to those who have provided food for others at Iftar time.
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
Whoever feeds a person breaking his fast will earn the same reward as him, without anything being lessened from the reward of the fasting person.
What do Muslims do during Ramadan?
During Ramadan, healthy adult Muslims fast from dawn until dusk. They also engage in additional acts of worship such as optional prayers, reading the Qu’ran and sending salutations (salawat) upon the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), as well as increasing their Islamic knowledge.
It’s also important for Muslims to strengthen family ties and increase their charitable giving, with the aim of gaining a deeper connection with Allah during the Holy month.
Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan?
Fasting, or sawm as it is known in Arabic, is compulsory upon every adult Muslim, and is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Fasting provides Muslims with the opportunity to acquire a sense of control over their needs, desires and distractions, giving them room for a heightened sense of introspection and their purpose in life – to worship Allah.
Fasting for the sake of Allah alone, is a special act of devotion for which there is a unique reward:
All the actions of the children of Adam are for them except for fasting. It is for me and I alone will reward it
Fasting helps to foster patience and submission to the will and pleasure of Allah.
O you who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as they were enjoined upon those before you, so that you may have taqwa (God-consciousness)
Fasting also allows us to emphasise more deeply with those suffering around the world, for whom going for long periods of time without food is not a choice.
It enables us to appreciate the great blessing of having food and clean water, and to show gratitude to Allah.
What can’t you do during Ramadan?
When fasting during the month of Ramadan, during the fasting hours, Muslims must abstain from drinking, eating and engaging in intimacy with their spouse.
Muslims must also pay extra attention to refrain from all immoral acts such as lying, cheating and backbiting throughout the holy month.
We are also encouraged to control our anger, and avoid conflict during Ramadan. It’s also important to purify our thoughts and intentions, and aim to keep our focus and priority on becoming closer to Allah.
This means putting activities related to our worldly life on hold during the blessed month, if this is possible, and instead engaging in more dhikr (remembrance of Allah).
What is Eid ul Fitr and why is it important?
In the Islamic (hijri) Calendar, there are two days out of the year dedicated to a celebration called Eid. Eid al-Fitr occurs at the end of the month of Ramadan each year, and Eid al-Adha occurs on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th and last month of the Islamic year.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the month of Ramadan, a period of month-long fasting for Muslims around the world.
Eid is a time for celebration with family and loved ones. Furthermore, it is a period of rest and good tidings! Eid is also a holy day in the Islamic calendar, in which we are encouraged to engage in increased dhikr (remembrance of Allah) as well as prayers, in order to show gratitude. In deed, it’s important to remember Allah in all occasions:
If anyone finds pleasure in receiving an answer from God in times of difficulty, he should make many supplications when times are easy.
There are also many virtues to the day, such as praying Eid prayer in congregation with the Muslim community to thank Allah (SWT) and enjoin in good.