The spiritual rewards (thawab) of fasting are believed to be multiplied during Ramadan.[16] Accordingly, during the hours of fasting, Muslims refrain not only from food and drink, but also from all behavior deemed to besinful in Islam,[17][18] devoting themselves instead to prayer and study of theQuran.[19][20]
Etymology
The wordRamadan derives from the Arabic rootR-M-Ḍ (ر-م-ض)'scorching heat',[21] which is theClassical Arabic verbramiḍa (رَمِضَ) meaning'become intensely hot – become burning; become scorching; be blazing; be glowing'.[22][23]
Ramadan is the month on which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the standard ˹to distinguish between right and wrong˺. So whoever is present this month, let them fast. But whoever is ill or on a journey, then ˹let them fast˺ an equal number of days ˹after Ramaḍân˺. Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful.
Muslims hold that allscriptures wererevealed during Ramadan, thescrolls of Abraham,Torah,Psalms,Gospel, andQuran having been handed down during that month.[39] Muhammad is said to have received his first quranic revelation onLaylat al-Qadr, one of five odd-numbered nights that fall during the last ten days of Ramadan.[40]
Although Muslims were first commanded to fast in the second year ofHijra (624 CE),[39] they believe that the practice of fasting is not in fact an innovation ofmonotheism[41] but rather has always been necessary for believers to attainfear of God (taqwa).[42][Quran2:183] They point to the fact that thepre-Islamic pagans of Mecca fasted on the tenth day ofMuharram toexpiate sin and avoiddrought.[43]Philip Jenkins argues that the observance of Ramadan fasting grew out of "the strictLenten discipline of theSyrian Churches", a postulation corroborated by other scholars, including theologianPaul-Gordon Chandler,[44][45] but disputed by some Muslim academics.[46] The Quran itself emphasizes that the fast it prescribes had already been prescribed to earlier biblical communities (2:183), even though an explicit intertext for this pre-Islamic practice does not exist.[47]
Important dates
TheIslamic calendar is alunar one, where each month begins when the firstcrescent of anew moon is sighted. The Islamic year consists of 12 lunar cycles, and consequently it is 10 to 11 days shorter than thesolar year, and as it contains nointercalation,[c] Ramadan migrates throughout the seasons. The Islamic day starts after sunset. The estimated start and end dates for Ramadan, based on theUmm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia, are:[48]
Many Muslims insist on the local physical sighting of the moon to mark the beginning of Ramadan, but others use the calculated time of the new moon or theSaudi Arabian declaration to determine the start of the month. Since the new moon is not in the same state at the same time globally, the beginning and ending dates of Ramadan depend on what lunar sightings are received in each respective location. As a result, Ramadan dates vary in different countries, but usually only by a day. This is due to thecycles of the moon; the moon may not meet the criteria to qualify as a waxing crescent, which delineates the change in months, at the time of sundown in one location while later meeting it in another location.[50] Astronomical projections that approximate the start of Ramadan are available.[51]
InShia Islam, one of the special dates of this month is the day of theassassination of Ali, the fourthRashidun caliph and the firstShia Imam.Ali was struck during morning prayer on the 19th day of Ramadan, 40AH, and he died on the 21st day of the month. They engage in mourning and prayer on these nights, especially inIran.[52]
Beginning
Ramadan beginning dates between Gregorian years 1938 and 2038.
Because thehilāl, orcrescent moon, typically occurs approximately one day after thenew moon, Muslims can usually estimate the beginning of Ramadan;[53] however, many Muslims prefer to confirm the opening of Ramadan by direct visual observation of the crescent.[54]
TheLaylat al-Qadr (Arabic:لیلة القدر) or "Night of Power" is the night that Muslims believe the Quran was first sent down to the world, and Muhammad received his first quranic revelation from it. The night is considered to be the holiest night of the year.[55][56] It is generally believed to have occurred on an odd-numbered night during the last ten days of Ramadan; theDawoodi Bohra believe thatLaylat al-Qadr was the twenty-third night of Ramadan.[57][58]
The holiday ofEid al-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر), which marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning ofShawwal,[59] the next lunar month, is declared after a crescentnew moon has been sighted or after completion of thirty days of fasting if no sighting of the moon is possible.Eid celebrates the return to a more natural disposition (fitra) of eating, drinking, andmarital intimacy.[60]
The common practice is to fast from dawn to sunset. The pre-dawn meal before the fast is called thesuhur, while the meal at sunset that breaks the fast is callediftar.[61]
Muslims devote more time to prayer and acts of charity, striving to improve theirself-discipline, motivated by hadith:[62][63] "When Ramadan arrives, the gates ofParadise are opened and thegates of hell are locked up and devils are put in chains."[64]
Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, self-improvement, and heightened devotion and worship. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings ofIslam. The fast (sawm) begins at dawn and ends at sunset. In addition to abstaining from eating and drinking, Muslims abstain from sexual relations[65] and sinful speech and behaviour during Ramadan. Fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, and tocleanse the soul by freeing it from harmful impurities. Muslims believe that Ramadan teaches them to practice self-discipline, self-control,[66] sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate, thus encouraging actions of generosity and compulsory charity (zakat).[67]
Exemptions from fasting include those traveling, menstruating, severely ill, pregnant, or breastfeeding.[61] Those unable to fast are obligated to make up the missed days later.[68]
Each day before dawn, Muslims observe a pre-fast meal called thesuhur. After stopping a short time before dawn, Muslims begin the first prayer of the day,Fajr.[69][70]
Some dishes used in breaking Ramadan fast in Nigeria
At sunset, families break the fast with theiftar, traditionally opening the meal by eatingdates to commemorate Muhammad's practice of breaking the fast with three dates.[71][72] They then adjourn forMaghrib, the fourth of the five required daily prayers, after which the main meal is served.[73]
Social gatherings, many times inbuffet style, are frequent atiftar. Traditional dishes are often highlighted, including traditional desserts, particularly those made only during Ramadan.[example needed] Water is usually the beverage of choice, but juice and milk are also often available, as are soft drinks and caffeinated beverages.[74]
In theMiddle East,iftar consists of water, juices, dates, salads and appetizers; one or more main dishes; and rich desserts, with dessert considered the most important aspect of the meal.[75] Typical main dishes include lamb stewed with wheat berries, lamb kebabs with grilled vegetables, and roasted chicken served with chickpea-studded rice pilaf. Desserts may includelokma,baklava orknafeh.[76]
Over time, the practice ofiftar has evolved into banquets that may accommodate hundreds or even thousands of diners.[77] TheSheikh Zayed Grand Mosque inAbu Dhabi, the largest mosque in theUAE, feeds up to thirty thousand people every night.[78]
Zakat, often translated as "the poor-rate", is the fixed percentage of income a believer is required to give to the poor; the practice is obligatory as one of thepillars of Islam. Muslims believe that good deeds are rewarded more handsomely during Ramadan than at any other time of the year; consequently, many Muslims donate a larger portion – or even all – of their yearlyzakat during this month.[79]
Tarawih (Arabic:تراويح) are extra nightly prayers performed during the month of Ramadan. Contrary to popular belief, they are not compulsory.[80]
Recitation of the Quran
Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Quran, which comprises thirtyjuz' (sections), over the thirty days of Ramadan.[81]
Cultural practices
AKebab seller from Chwakbazar Iftar Market inOld Dhaka. TheChowk Bazaar neighborhood of Old Dhaka is famous for its century-oldIftar Bazar.
In some Islamic countries, lights (fanous) are strung up in public squares and across city streets,[82][83][84] a tradition believed to have originated during theFatimid Caliphate, where the rule ofCaliphal-Mu'izz li-Din Allah was acclaimed by people holding lanterns.[85]
On the island ofJava, many believers bathe in holy springs to prepare for fasting, a ritual known asPadusan.[88] The city ofSemarang marks the beginning of Ramadan with the Dugderan carnival, which involves parading thewarak ngendog, a horse-dragon hybrid creature allegedly inspired by theBuraq.[89] In the Chinese-influenced capital city ofJakarta, firecrackers are widely used to celebrate Ramadan, although they are officially illegal.[90] Towards the end of Ramadan, most employees receive a one-month bonus known asTunjangan Hari Raya.[91] Certain kinds of food are especially popular during Ramadan, such as large beef or buffalo inAceh and snails inCentral Java.[92] Theiftar meal is announced every evening by striking thebedug, a giant drum, in the mosque.[93]
Common greetings during Ramadan includeRamadan mubarak andRamadan kareem, which mean (have a) "blessed Ramadan" and "generous Ramadan" respectively.[94]
During Ramadan in the Middle East, amesaharati beats a drum across a neighbourhood to wake people up to eat the suhoor meal.[95] Similarly in Southeast Asia, thekentonganslit drum is used for the same purpose.[96]
Ramadan attracts significant increases in television viewership, as the usualprime time hours coincide with theiftar, and are commonly extended into thelate-night hours to coincide with the suhur. Broadcasters in the Arab world traditionally premiereserialdramas known asmusalsal during Ramadan; they are similar in style to Latin Americantelenovelas, and are typically around 30 episodes in length so that they run over the length of the month.[97][98][99] Advertisers in the region have considered Ramadan to be comparable to theSuper Bowl on U.S. television in terms of impact and importance; the cost of a 30-second commercial in peak time during Ramadan is usually more than double than normal.[100][101]
Conversion of Hijri years 1343 to 1500 to the Gregorian calendar, with first days of al-Muharram (brown), Ramadan (grey) and Shawwal (black) bolded, and Eid al-Adha dotted – inthe SVG file, hover over a spot to show its dates and a line to show the month
The length of the dawn to sunset time varies in different parts of the world according to summer or winter solstices of the Sun. Most Muslims fast for eleven to sixteen hours during Ramadan. However, in polar regions, the period between dawn and sunset may exceed twenty-two hours in summer. For example, in 2014, Muslims in Reykjavik, Iceland, and Trondheim, Norway, fasted almost twenty-two hours, while Muslims in Sydney, Australia, fasted for only about eleven hours. In areas characterized by continuous night or day, some Muslims follow the fasting schedule observed in the nearest city that experiences sunrise and sunset, while others follow Mecca time.[13][14][15]
Ramadan in Earth orbit
As sunrise and sunset occur sixteen times each a day in low-Earth orbit,Muslim astronauts in space schedule religious practices around the time zone of the last place on Earth they were on. For example, this means an astronaut from Malaysia launching from theKennedy Space Center in Florida would center their fast according to sunrise and sunset times in Cape Canaveral, in Florida'sEastern Time. This includes times for daily prayers, as well as sunset and sunrise for Ramadan.[103][104]
In some countries, on the contrary, the observance of Ramadan has been restricted by governments. In theUSSR, the practice of Ramadan was suppressed by officials.[119][120] In Albania, Ramadan festivities were banned during the communist period.[121] However, many Albanians continued to fast secretly during this period.[122]
China is reported to have banned Ramadan fasting for officials, students, and teachers inXinjiang since 2012.[123][124][125]Radio Free Asia alleges that residents inKashgar Prefecture are compelled to film proof of eating for officials and are encouraged to report those who fasted to the authorities.[126][127] The ban has been denied by Chinese diplomats[128] and Muslim associations in Xinjiang.[129]Antara News,[130]Daily Times,[131] andPakistan Today have also brought up accounts of residents in Xinjiang fasting.[132] According to a 2024 visit to Xinjiang by a reporter from the British magazine The Economist, many Uyghurs do not fast during Ramadan because, according to locals, "the Chinese government guarantees freedom of religion".[133]
Employment during Ramadan
Muslims continue to work during Ramadan;[134][135] however, in some countries, such as Oman and Lebanon, working hours are shortened.[136][137] It is often recommended that working Muslims inform their employers if they are fasting, given the potential for the observance to impact performance at work.[138] The extent to which Ramadan observers are protected byreligious accommodation varies by country. Policies putting them at a disadvantage compared to other employees have been met with discrimination claims in the United Kingdom and the United States.[139][140][141] AnArab News article reported thatSaudi Arabian businesses were unhappy with shorter working hours during Ramadan, some reporting a decline in productivity of 35–50%.[142] The Saudi businesses proposed awarding salary bonuses in order to incentivize longer hours.[143] Despite the reduction in productivity, merchants can enjoy higher profit margins in Ramadan due to increase in demand.[144]
Some countries impose modified work schedules. In the UAE,Qatar,Oman,Bahrain andKuwait, employees may work no more than six hours per day and thirty-six hours per week.[145]
Health effects
There are various health effects of fasting in Ramadan. Ramadan fasting is considered safe for healthy individuals; it may pose risks for individuals with certain pre-existing conditions. Most Islamic scholars hold that fasting is not required for those who are ill. Additionally, the elderly and pre-pubertal children are exempt from fasting.[146] Pregnant or lactating women are also exempt from fasting during Ramadan.[147] There are known health risks involved in pregnant women who fast, which include the potential ofinduced labour andgestational diabetes.[148][149][150]
There are some health benefits of fasting in Ramadan including increasing insulin sensitivity and reducing insulin resistance.[151] It has also been shown that there is a significant improvement in 10-year coronary heart disease risk score and other cardiovascular risk factors such as lipid profile, systolic blood pressure, weight,BMI and waist circumference in subjects with a previous history of cardiovascular disease.[152] The fasting period is usually associated with modest weight loss, but weight can return afterwards.[153]
In many cultures, it is associated with heavy food and water intake duringSuhur andIftar times, which may do more harm than good.[154] Ramadan fasting is safe for healthy people provided that overall food and water intake is adequate but those with medical conditions should seek medical advice if they encounter health problems before or during fasting.[155]
The education departments ofBerlin and theUnited Kingdom have tried to discourage students from fasting during Ramadan, as they claim that not eating or drinking can lead to concentration problems and bad grades.[156][157]
A review of the literature by an Iranian group suggested fasting during Ramadan might producerenal injury in patients with moderate (GFR under 60mL/min) or severekidney disease but was not injurious torenal transplant patients with good function or moststone-forming patients.[158]
A study on 55 professional Algerian soccer players showed that performance during Ramadan declined significantly for speed, agility, dribbling speed and endurance, and most stayed low 2weeks after the conclusion of Ramadan.[159]
^abSee article"How Long Muslims Fast For Ramadan Around The World" -Huffpost.com /31 July 2014 and article "Fasting Hours of Ramadan 2014" -Onislam.net / 29 June 2014 and article "The true spirit of Ramadan" -Gulfnews.com /31 July 2014
^Ibn Abu Hatim, Abdul Rahman.Tafsir Ibn Abu Hatim (in Arabic). Vol. 1. p. 310, Nu. 1648.لَا تَقُولُوا۟ «رَمَضَانُ»، فَإِنَّ رَمَضَانَ اسْمٌ مِنْ أَسْمَاءِ اللَّٰهِ، وَلَٰكِنْ قُولُوا۟ «شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ»
^Jenkins, Philip (2006).The New Faces of Christianity: Believing the Bible in the Global South. p. 182. Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition.
^Chandler, Paul-Gordon (2008).Pilgrims of Christ on the Muslim Road: Exploring a New Path Between Two Faiths. Cowley Publications. p. 88.ISBN978-0-7425-6603-3.
^Muhammad Mustafa al-Azami, "The History of The Quranic Text: From Revelation to Compilation: A Comparative Study with the Old and New Testaments", 2nd Edition (2008), Azami Publishing House
^Indrayani, Suharti (2018)."How do Muslims consume dates?"(PDF).Pakistani Journal of Medical and Health Sciences.12:1732–1743.Archived(PDF) from the original on 28 July 2020.
^Leo Paul Dana.When Economies Change Paths: Models of Transition in China, the Central Asian Republics, Myanmar & the Nations of Former Indochine Française. p. 162.
^James Minahan.The Former Soviet Union's Diverse Peoples: A Reference Sourcebook. p. 133.
^Islamic Beliefs, Practices, and Cultures. Marshall Cavendish. p. 165.
^Mirghani, HM; Hamud, OA (January 2006). "The effect of maternal diet restriction on pregnancy outcome".American Journal of Perinatology.23 (1):21–24.doi:10.1055/s-2005-923435.PMID16450268.S2CID260001799.
^Shariatpanahi, Z. Vahdat, et al. "Effect of Ramadan fasting on some indices of insulin resistance and components of the metabolic syndrome in healthy male adults."British Journal of Nutrition 100.1 (2008): 147–151.
^Nematy, Mohsen, et al. "Effects of Ramadan fasting on cardiovascular risk factors: a prospective observational study." Nutrition journal 11.1 (2012): 69.
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