Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which many Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset each day.

The word Ramadan is also used to refer to this daily fast.

During Ramadan, Muslims who fast start the day by eating a meal, called suhoor, before sunrise. The fast is then broken every night after sunset with a meal called iftar. The strictness of the fast varies among Muslims, and not every Muslim fasts during Ramadan. Children, elderly people, and people who have a health condition or are sick or pregnant are not required to fast, and often eat and drink during the day.

Along with the daily fast and other forms of abstinence, many Muslims observe Ramadan by praying, attending services at their mosque, trying to give up bad habits, and performing charitable acts.

The day after Ramadan ends, the festival known as Eid-al-fitr begins. Its name means “festival of the breaking of the fast.”

One traditional greeting for Ramadan is Ramadan Mubarak, roughly meaning “Happy Ramadan” or “Blessed Ramadan.”

In 2023, Ramadan begins on March 22 at sunset and ends on April 20. In 2024, Ramadan will begin on March 10 and end on April 9.

Ramadan always lasts either 29 or 30 days, because it’s based on the Islamic calendar, which is a lunar calendar. Because of that, the dates during which it is observed vary from year to year.

The first records of the word Ramadan in English come from the 1500s. It comes from the Arabic word ramaḍān, literally meaning “the hot month,” from ramad, meaning “dryness.” However, Ramadan isn’t tied to a particular season. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar that consists of 354 days, so its 12 months slowly cycle through different seasons.

The tradition of fasting during Ramadan is done in commemoration of the story of the Qur’an (the sacred text of Islam) being revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

What are some terms that often get used in discussing Ramadan?

• month
• fast
• iftar
• observe
• Eid-al-fitr
• Qur’an
• Islamic calendar

While Ramadan is a time of fasting, Muslims often look forward to it as a time of religious and cultural importance.

Makes me happy knowing that Ramadan is close 🧡

— Umaima Naaz (@umaimanaazz) February 6, 2021

1. Ramadan happens once a year and lasts around 30 days
2. We follow the lunar calendar which is why it starts earlier each year (shifts by around 11 days)
3. It's a month for spiritual discipline and it helps us feel grateful for what we have

— Areej (@areej_abuali) April 5, 2021

YOU!!!!! DONT!!!!! HAVE!!!!!! TO!!!!! WAIT!!!!! FOR!!!!!! RAMADAN!!!!! TO!!!!! BE!!!!! A!!!!!! BETTER!!!!! PERSON!!!!!!!!!

— EMM🌹👑 (@_myyriiaam) February 7, 2021

True or False?

Ramadan always lasts for 30 days.