Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is a special time for Muslims all around the world. During Ramadan, people fast from dawn until sunset. This means they don't eat or drink during the day, but they break their fast together at sunset with a meal called iftar.

Ramadan is very important because it is when the Quran, the holy book of Islam, is believed to have been revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It is one of the five pillars of Islam, which are the main practices that Muslims follow. The month lasts about 29 to 30 days, starting when people see the crescent moon.

Besides fasting, Muslims also spend time in prayer, reflection, and studying the Quran. They also give to charity and help others, which strengthens their community ties. Even though fasting can be challenging, many people feel that Ramadan is a time of great spiritual reward and personal growth.

Etymology

The word Ramadan comes from an Arabic word that means "scorching heat." This name reflects the intense heat that people might feel during this holy month. In some countries influenced by Persian language, such as Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, India, Pakistan, and Turkey, people say "Ramazan" or "Ramzan" instead. In Bangladesh, the word is "Romzan."

History

Ramadan is a special month for Muslims because they believe the Quran was revealed during this time. It is a time for fasting, prayer, and giving to others. Muslims think that many important holy books, like the Torah and the Psalms, were also given to people during Ramadan. They remember the night when the Prophet Muhammad first received the Quran, called Laylat al-Qadr, which happens in the last ten days of Ramadan.

Fasting during Ramadan was commanded to Muslims in the second year after they started following the Islamic calendar. Muslims believe that fasting has always been important for believers, even before Islam, as a way to show respect and stay strong in their faith.

Important dates

The Islamic calendar is based on the moon. Each month starts when the first thin part of the new moon is seen. Because the moon changes each month, Ramadan, the holy month, moves through the seasons over time. Each day in this calendar begins after sunset.

Many Muslims look up to see the moon to know when Ramadan starts, but some use special calculations or announcements from Saudi Arabia. Because the moon looks different in different places, Ramadan can start on different days in different parts of the world, but usually only one day apart.

The most special night of Ramadan is called the Laylat al-Qadr or "Night of Power." Muslims believe this is when the Quran was first revealed. It is thought to be one of the last ten nights of Ramadan.

The holiday of Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. It begins when another new moon is seen or after 30 days of fasting, whichever comes first. Eid is a celebration of returning to normal life after the month of fasting.

Main article: Night of Power

Main articles: Eid al-Fitr and Eid prayers

Religious practices

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset. Before dawn, they eat a meal called suhur, and at sunset, they break their fast with a meal called iftar.

Fasting helps people practice self-control and think about others. Muslims also spend more time praying and giving to those in need. Many try to read the whole Quran during Ramadan. Special nightly prayers called Tarawih are also common, though they are not required.

Cultural practices

In many Islamic countries, people decorate their streets with special lights called fanous, a tradition that started long ago. In Bangladesh, people sing songs to wake others up for early meals before sunrise.

In Java, people visit holy springs for a special bath before fasting. In Semarang, they celebrate with a parade featuring a unique horse-dragon creature. In Jakarta, fireworks are used even though they are not officially allowed.

During Ramadan, people greet each other with phrases like “blessed Ramadan” and “generous Ramadan.” In some places, a person walks around beating a drum to wake everyone up for early meals. In Nigeria and West Africa, families share meals and give to those in need. Mosques host nightly prayers and charity events.

Ramadan also brings special TV shows during the evening meals, making it a big event for viewers.

Observance

Many Muslims around the world observe Ramadan. In 2012, a study found that about 93% of Muslims in 39 countries fasted during this special month. Places with the highest numbers of people fasting include parts of Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and most of Sub-Saharan Africa. Fewer people fast in Central Asia and Southeast Europe.

In 2023, it was expected that 97% of Muslims would fast during Ramadan. In some countries, almost everyone fasted, like 99.8% in Indonesia and 99.5% in Malaysia. Many Muslims also plan to spend more time in prayer and give to charity during Ramadan. Most agreed that Ramadan is a time for kindness and helping others.

Ramadan in polar regions

Main article: Islamic views on fasting in the polar regions

The time between sunrise and sunset changes depending on where you are and the season. While most Muslims fast for about 11 to 16 hours, in places near the poles, this time can be much longer—over 22 hours! For example, in 2014, Muslims in Iceland and Norway fasted almost 22 hours, while those in Australia fasted for around 11 hours. In areas where the sun doesn’t rise or set for days, some Muslims follow the schedule of the nearest city where the sun does rise and set, while others follow the times from Mecca.

Ramadan in Earth orbit

Because sunrise and sunset happen many times each day in space, Muslim astronauts plan their religious practices based on the time zone of the last place they were on Earth. For example, astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor from Malaysia, calculated fasting and prayer times using the sunrise and sunset times in Cape Canaveral, which is in the Eastern Time Zone.

Laws

Some Muslim countries have rules against eating or drinking in public during the daytime in Ramadan. For example, selling alcohol is not allowed during Ramadan in Egypt. In places like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Algeria, and Malaysia, people can get fines or have to spend time in jail if they eat, drink, or smoke in public during Ramadan. In the United Arab Emirates, the punishment is doing community service instead.

In some countries, there have been times when following Ramadan was not allowed. During a certain period in Albania, people were not allowed to celebrate Ramadan openly, though many still fasted in secret. In China, especially in Xinjiang, there have been reports that some leaders, students, and teachers were not allowed to fast during Ramadan. However, not everyone in the area follows these rules.

Employment during Ramadan

During Ramadan, many Muslims continue to work, but some countries like Oman and Lebanon have shorter work hours to help people fast. It’s often a good idea for Muslims who are fasting to let their bosses know, so they can plan ahead. The rules about how much help workers get during Ramadan differ in each country. In some places, like the United Kingdom and the United States, people have talked about unfair treatment at work during this time.

In countries such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE, workers may only have to work up to six hours a day and 36 hours a week. Even though work might slow down during Ramadan, shops and businesses can make more money because people buy more things for special meals.

Health effects

During Ramadan, many people fast from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. This fasting can be safe for healthy individuals, but it may not be suitable for those with certain health conditions. Doctors often say that people who are sick, very old, children who have not yet started puberty, or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not fast.

Fasting can have some health benefits, like helping the body process sugar better and improving heart health. It can also help with weight loss, although people might gain the weight back after Ramadan ends. However, eating and drinking too much at special meals before sunrise and after sunset can sometimes cause health problems.

Schools in places like Berlin and the United Kingdom sometimes advise students not to fast, as it might affect their focus and schoolwork. People with kidney problems should also be careful. Some athletes have noticed that their performance drops during Ramadan. It’s important for anyone with health concerns to talk to a doctor before fasting.