What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims around the world. It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset each day, a practice called fasting. This is a time when Muslims pray more, read the Quran, help others, and spend time with family.

How Long Is Ramadan

Ramadan lasts for one month in the Islamic calendar. The Islamic calendar follows the moon, not the sun, like many other calendars. Each month starts when people can see the new moon in the sky. Because the Islamic calendar is about 11 days shorter than the regular calendar, Ramadan moves earlier each year. Some years, it happens in winter when days are short, and other years, it happens in summer when days are long.

Ramadan in 2025 will start around March 1 and end around March 30. These dates may change a bit because they depend on when people see the moon.

Who Celebrates Ramadan

Muslims all over the world celebrate Ramadan. Islam is one of the biggest religions in the world, with more than 1.8 billion followers. Muslims live in many different countries and speak many different languages.

All adult Muslims who are healthy must fast during Ramadan. Some people do not have to fast if:

They are sick
They are traveling
They are very old
Women who are pregnant, nursing babies, or having their period
Children who have not reached puberty
People with health problems that make fasting dangerous

Even if Muslims cannot fast, they often try to follow other parts of Ramadan like praying and being kind to others.

Fasting During Ramadan

When Can You Eat During Ramadan

During Ramadan, Muslims can eat before the sun rises and after the sun sets. The meal before sunrise is called Suhoor. The meal after sunset is called Iftar.

Suhoor is often a small meal that helps people stay full during the day. Many Muslims wake up early to eat Suhoor before the morning prayer called Fajr.

Iftar is usually a bigger meal. Many Muslims break their fast with dates and water, just like the Prophet Muhammad did. Then they pray Maghrib, the sunset prayer. After that, they eat a bigger meal with family and friends.

Can You Drink Water During Ramadan

No, Muslims cannot drink water during fasting hours in Ramadan. From dawn until sunset, Muslims do not eat food or drink anything, not even water. This makes fasting harder, but it helps Muslims learn patience and feel what it is like to be hungry and thirsty. It helps them understand what poor people feel.

After sunset and before sunrise, Muslims can drink as much water as they want. It is very important to drink enough water during these times, especially in hot weather.

Food and Traditions

Different Muslim countries have different food traditions for Ramadan. In many places, people make special foods only during this month. Sharing food with family, friends, and the poor is an important part of Ramadan.

Many mosques or Muslim community centers have big Iftar meals where people can come and eat together. These meals help people feel part of a community and ensure that poor people have food to eat.

Other Ramadan Practices

Prayer During Ramadan

Muslims pray five times every day all year. During Ramadan, many Muslims also do extra prayers at night called Tarawih. These prayers are longer and can last for hours. People often go to the mosque for Tarawih prayers, but they can also pray at home.

Reading the Quran, the Muslim holy book is very important during Ramadan. Many Muslims try to read the whole Quran during the month, but some people read a little bit each day, so they finish by the end of Ramadan.

Good Deeds and Charity

Doing good things for others is a big part of Ramadan. Muslims try to be extra kind and help people during this month. Giving money or food to people who need it is called Zakat or Sadaqah. This is very important in Islam, especially during Ramadan.

Many Muslims give more money to charity during Ramadan. They also try to be better people by not lying, not saying bad things about others, and not getting angry.

Can You Listen to Music During Ramadan

There are different opinions about music in Islam. Some Muslims think music is not allowed at all. Other Muslims think some music is okay if the words are good and it does not stop people from praying or doing other religious duties.

During Ramadan, many Muslims try to focus more on worship and less on entertainment. Some stop listening to music during Ramadan to be more serious about worship. Others still listen to music, but maybe less than usual. It depends on what each person or family believes is right.

Can You Have Sex During Ramadan

Married couples cannot have sex during fasting hours in Ramadan. This means from dawn until sunset, they must not have sexual relations. This is part of the fasting rules.

After sunset and until dawn, married couples are allowed to have sex. The Quran says this is permitted during the nights of Ramadan. Unmarried people should not have sex at any time, as sex outside marriage is not allowed in Islam.

Laylat al-Qadr – The Night of Power

Laylat al-Qadr is a very special night during Ramadan. Muslims believe it is the night the Quran was first given to Prophet Muhammad. The Quran says this night is better than a thousand months, which means good deeds done on this night are worth more than good deeds done over 83 years.

Muslims do not know exactly which night is Laylat al-Qadr. Most believe it is one of the odd-numbered nights in the last ten days of Ramadan. Many stay up all night praying on these nights, hoping to catch it.

Eid al-Fitr – The End of Ramadan

Eid al-Fitr is the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. It comes on the first day of the month after Ramadan, which is called Shawwal. On Eid al-Fitr, Muslims do not fast. Instead, they celebrate!

On Eid day, Muslims:

Wake up early
Clean themselves and wear nice clothes
Go to special Eid prayers at the mosque
Visit family and friends
Give gifts, especially to children
Eat special foods
Give money to charity so poor people can celebrate, too

Eid al-Fitr can last for up to three days in some countries. It is a happy time after the hard work of fasting for a month.

Why Muslims Fast During Ramadan

Muslims fast during Ramadan for many reasons:

To obey God. The Quran tells Muslims to fast during Ramadan.

To learn self-control. By not eating or drinking even when they are hungry or thirsty, Muslims practice controlling their wants and needs.

To feel what poor people feel. Being hungry helps Muslims understand what people who do not have enough food feel every day.

To be thankful. When Muslims break their fast, they feel very thankful for the food and water they have.

To focus on prayer and the Quran. Eating less helps Muslims think more about God and less about everyday things.

To be part of the Muslim community. When all Muslims fast together, it helps them feel connected.

The Islamic Calendar

The Islamic calendar is different from the calendar most people use. It is a lunar calendar, which means it follows the moon. Each month starts when the new moon appears in the sky.

The Islamic calendar has 12 months, but each year has only 354 or 355 days. This is about 11 days shorter than the solar calendar, which has 365 or 366 days. Because of this, Islamic months move through all the seasons over time.

The names of the Islamic months are:

Muharram
Safar
Rabi al-Awwal
Rabi al-Thani
Jumada al-Awwal
Jumada al-Thani
Rajab
Shaban
Ramadan
Shawwal
Dhu al-Qadah
Dhu al-Hijjah

Ramadan is the ninth month in this calendar.

History of Ramadan

Muslims believe that God first gave the Quran to Prophet Muhammad about 1400 years ago, during the month of Ramadan. An angel named Jibril (Gabriel) told Muhammad the words of the Quran.

Prophet Muhammad started the tradition of fasting during Ramadan. Muslims today fast the same way he did. They also try to follow his example of being kind and generous during this holy month.

The Quran tells Muslims that people before them also had to fast. Fasting has been part of many religions for thousands of years as a way to worship God.

Ramadan Around the World

Muslims live in many different countries and have many different cultures. This means Ramadan looks a bit different depending on where you are.

Middle East

In countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE, Ramadan is a very big event. Many people work shorter hours so they can rest during fasting. Streets and buildings are decorated with lights and lanterns. After Iftar, people often stay up late visiting friends or going to cafes.

South Asia

In countries like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, special foods are a big part of Ramadan. People make foods like samosas, pakoras, and sweet dishes for Iftar. Markets stay open late, and cities are very busy after sunset.

Southeast Asia

In Indonesia and Malaysia, markets called “Ramadan bazaars” sell all kinds of food for Iftar. People buy food to take home or eat at the market. Drums or loudspeakers announce when it is time to break the fast.

Western Countries

In places like the United States, Canada, and Europe, Muslims are often a small part of the population. They may go to work or school while fasting. Many mosques have community Iftars on weekends. Muslims often explain Ramadan to their non-Muslim friends and sometimes invite them to try fasting for a day or come to an Iftar meal.

Health and Fasting

Fasting can be good for the body if done right. Some health benefits might include:

Giving the digestive system a rest
Lowering blood sugar and cholesterol
Helping people lose weight
Teaching people to eat less
Helping people stop bad habits like smoking

But fasting can also be hard on the body, especially in hot weather or when days are long. Muslims who are fasting should:

Drink lots of water between sunset and sunrise
Eat healthy foods with protein and fiber at Suhoor
Do not eat too much at Iftar
Get enough sleep
Not do too much hard physical work or exercise during fasting hours

People with health problems should talk to their doctor before fasting. Islam does not want people to hurt themselves by fasting. If fasting causes health problems, Muslims can skip fasting and make it up later or feed poor people instead.

Ramadan for Children

Children do not have to fast until they reach puberty, which is usually around age 12-14 for girls and 13-15 for boys. Before that, many children practiced fasting for part of the day or a few days of Ramadan, which helps them get used to it slowly.

Many Muslim families use Ramadan to teach children about their religion. They might:

Read stories about Prophet Muhammad and other Islamic figures
Decorate the house with Ramadan calendars or lanterns
Let children help prepare Iftar meals
Take children to the mosque for prayers
Give children gifts or money on Eid al-Fitr

Even young children can understand that Ramadan is a special time. They see their parents and older siblings fasting and praying more. This helps them learn about their religion.

Common Questions About Ramadan

What If Someone Breaks Their Fast by Mistake

If someone eats or drinks by mistake during Ramadan, their fast is still valid. They should just continue fasting for the rest of the day. Islam teaches that God does not punish mistakes, only things done on purpose.

What If Someone Cannot Fast

If someone cannot fast because they are sick, traveling, too old, pregnant, or have other valid reasons, they have options:

Makeup missed fasts later when they can (for temporary situations like travel or illness)
Feed a poor person for each missed day (for permanent situations like old age or chronic illness)

Can Non-Muslims Participate in Ramadan

Yes, non-Muslims can learn about Ramadan and even participate in some ways:

They can try fasting for a day or part of a day
They can join Muslims for Iftar meals
They can learn about Islam and ask questions
They can be supportive of Muslim friends who are fasting

Many Muslims are happy when non-Muslims show interest in Ramadan. It helps build understanding between different religions.

Ramadan Words and Terms

Here are some important words about Ramadan that Muslims use:

Suhoor – The meal is eaten before dawn before starting the fast

Iftar – The meal is eaten after sunset to break the fast

Sawm – The Arabic word for fasting

Tarawih – Special extra prayers are done at night during Ramadan

Zakat – Giving a certain amount of money to charity, which is one of the main duties of Islam

Sadaqah – Giving extra charity beyond what is required

Laylat al-Qadr – The “Night of Power” when the Quran was first revealed

Eid al-Fitr – The holiday celebrating the end of Ramadan

Hilal – The crescent moon that marks the beginning and end of Ramadan

The Importance of Ramadan in Islam

Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. These are the five main duties that all Muslims must do:

Shahada – Declaring belief in one God and that Muhammad is God’s messenger
Salat – Praying five times every day
Zakat – Giving money to charity
Sawm – Fasting during Ramadan
Hajj – Making a pilgrimage to Mecca once in life if able

These Five Pillars are the foundation of Muslim life. Fasting during Ramadan is very important because it is one of these main duties.

Muslims believe that during Ramadan, the gates of heaven are open wider, and the gates of hell are closed. This makes it a good time to pray and ask God for forgiveness and blessings.

The Spiritual Side of Ramadan

Ramadan is not just about not eating and drinking. It is also about becoming a better person. Muslims try to:

Pray more and with more focus
Read and understand the Quran
Think about God more
Be more patient
Control anger and bad thoughts
Say only good things
Avoid fights and arguments
Give more to charity
Be kind to all people
Forgive people who have hurt them

Many Muslims say Ramadan helps them “recharge” their faith. It is like a training period for the soul. The good habits they practice during Ramadan can help them be better Muslims all year.

Changes in Modern Ramadan

How people observe Ramadan has changed a bit over time:

Technology now plays a bigger role. Muslims use apps to know prayer times and find the direction of Mecca. Social media helps Muslims connect and share Ramadan experiences with others around the world.

In many countries, TV channels show special Ramadan programs. Some are religious, and others are entertainment shows made just for Ramadan.

More Muslims now live in non-Muslim countries where Ramadan is not an official holiday. This can make fasting harder because people still have to work or go to school for full days.

Some Muslims worry that Ramadan has become too commercial in some places. Restaurants, shops, and companies advertise special Ramadan products or sales, which some people feel detracts from the spiritual side of the month.

Despite these changes, Ramadan’s core remains the same. It is still a time for fasting, prayer, charity, and growing closer to God.

Final Thoughts on Ramadan

Ramadan is a special time for Muslims worldwide. It brings people together and helps them focus on what is most important in life. Through fasting, Muslims learn patience, thankfulness, and compassion for others.

Ramadan shows how faith can be part of everyday life. It affects when and what Muslims eat, how they spend their time, how they treat others, and how they think about God.

For many Muslims, Ramadan is the best time of year. Despite the challenge of not eating or drinking during daylight hours, they look forward to this month of spiritual growth and community.

Ramadan teaches that sometimes doing hard things can bring great rewards. By the end of the month, many Muslims feel proud that they completed their fasts and happy about becoming closer to God and their community.