Hijri Calendar
Ramadan
Ramaḍān
The ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar, the month of obligatory fasting and the revelation of the Quran.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims observe a complete fast from dawn (Fajr) to sunset (Maghrib). Fasting in Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam, obligatory upon every adult, sane, and able Muslim. It is the month in which the Quran began to be revealed, making it a season of worship, self-restraint, charity, and spiritual renewal observed by over a billion Muslims worldwide.
Why is Ramadan So Important?
Ramadan holds a unique status because it is the month of the Quran's revelation and contains Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power, which is "better than a thousand months". Allah singled out fasting as an act done purely for Him, with a reward beyond measure. The Prophet ﷺ said the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained during this month.
Ramadan in the Quran
- "The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people..." (2:185)
- "O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwa." (2:183)
- "...eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct from the black thread of night, then complete the fast until nightfall." (2:187)
The Daily Rhythm of Ramadan
| Moment | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Suhoor | Pre-dawn meal eaten before Fajr |
| Fajr | Fast begins at true dawn |
| Maghrib | Fast is broken (iftar) at sunset |
| Tarawih | Special night prayers after Isha |
More Than Hunger
Fasting is not merely abstaining from food and drink. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of his giving up food and drink" (Bukhari 1903). Ramadan trains the believer in patience, gratitude, empathy for the poor, and control over desires.
Key Acts of Ramadan
- Fasting (Sawm) — the obligatory daily fast
- Tarawih — voluntary congregational night prayers
- Recitation of the Quran — many complete the entire Quran
- Itikaf — spiritual retreat in the mosque, especially the last ten days
- Zakat al-Fitr — charity given before Eid prayer
- Seeking Laylat al-Qadr — in the odd nights of the last ten
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is exempt from fasting?
The sick, travellers, the elderly who cannot fast, pregnant and nursing women, menstruating women, and children before puberty. Missed fasts are made up later, or compensated by feeding the poor (fidyah) where making up is not possible.
What breaks the fast?
Intentionally eating or drinking, intentional vomiting, and intimate relations during fasting hours. Forgetfully eating or drinking does not break the fast.
When does Ramadan begin?
Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new crescent (hilal) after Sha'ban, so its Gregorian date moves about 10-11 days earlier each year.
Etymology & origin
The word Ramadan (رمضان) derives from the Arabic root R-M-Ḍ (ر-م-ض), connected to ramaḍ — intense heat or the scorching of the ground by the sun. The month was so named because, when the Arabic months were first fixed, it fell in the height of summer. Scholars also note a spiritual sense: just as heat burns away impurity, the fasting of Ramadan burns away sins. The same root gives ramḍāʾ (sun-baked earth). Thus Ramadan is, by its very name, a month of purification through hardship willingly borne.
References
- Quran:
- 2:183, 2:184, 2:185, 2:187, 97:1
- Hadith:
- Bukhari 1899 (gates of Paradise opened, Hell closed, devils chained); Bukhari 1901 (whoever fasts Ramadan with faith is forgiven); Bukhari 1903 (no need for his giving up food if he keeps false speech); Muslim 1151 (fasting is a shield); Bukhari 38 (whoever stands in Ramadan with faith is forgiven)
Related terms
Eid al-Fitr
The "festival of breaking the fast", celebrated on the first of Shawwal to mark the end of Ramadan, beginning with a special congregational prayer.
Hilal (Crescent)
The new crescent moon whose sighting determines the beginning of each Islamic month, including Ramadan and the days of the two Eids.
Laylat al-Qadr
The "Night of Power" in the last ten nights of Ramadan, described in the Quran as better than a thousand months; the night the Quran began to be revealed.
Sawm
The fourth pillar of Islam: abstaining from food, drink, intimacy and sinful acts from dawn (Fajr) to sunset (Maghrib) during Ramadan.
Sha'ban
The eighth month of the Islamic calendar, preceding Ramadan; the Prophet fasted often during it in preparation for the fasting month.
Shawwal
The tenth month of the Islamic calendar, beginning with Eid al-Fitr; fasting its six days after Eid carries the reward of fasting the whole year.