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Ramadan

Ramadan[b] (Arabic: رَمَضَان, romanized: Ramaḍān [ra.ma.dˤaːn];[c] also spelled Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan, or Ramathan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar,[10] observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm), prayer (salah), reflection, and community.[11] A commemoration of Muhammad's first revelation,[12] the annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam[13] and lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.[14][15]

This article is about the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, a month of fasting for Muslims. For the Islamic calendar month, see Ramadan (calendar month). For other uses, see Ramadan (disambiguation).

Ramadan
رَمَضَان

Muslims

Islamic

Community iftars and prayers

At the last night of the month of Sha'ban[1]

At the last night of the month of Ramadan[1]

Variable (follows the Islamic lunar calendar)[2][3]

11/12 March – 9/10 April[a]

Annual (lunar calendar)

Fasting from dawn to sunset is obligatory (fard) for all adult Muslims who are not acutely or chronically ill, travelling, elderly, breastfeeding, diabetic, pregnant, or menstruating.[16] The predawn meal is referred to as suhur, and the nightly feast that breaks the fast is called iftar.[17][18] Although rulings (fatawa) have been issued declaring that Muslims who live in regions with a midnight sun or polar night should follow the timetable of Mecca,[19] it is common practice to follow the timetable of the closest country in which night can be distinguished from day.[20][21][22]


The spiritual rewards (thawab) of fasting are believed to be multiplied during Ramadan.[23] Accordingly, during the hours of fasting, Muslims refrain not only from food and drink, but also tobacco products, sexual relations, and sinful behavior,[24][25] devoting themselves instead to prayer and study of the Quran.[26][27]

Etymology

The word Ramadan derives from the Arabic root R-M-Ḍ (ر-م-ض) "scorching heat",[28] which is the Classical Arabic verb "ramiḍa (رَمِضَ)" meaning "become intensely hot – become burning; become scorching; be blazing; be glowing".


Ramadan is thought of as one of the names of God in Islam by some, and as such it is reported in many hadiths that it is prohibited to say only "Ramadan" in reference to the calendar month and that it is necessary to say "month of Ramadan", as reported in Sunni,[29][30][31][32][33][34] Shia[35][36][37][38][39][40] and Zaydi[41] sources. However, the report has been graded by others as Mawḍūʻ (fabricated)[42] and inauthentic.[29]


In the Persian language, the Arabic letter ض (Ḍād) is pronounced as /z/. The Muslim communities in some countries with historical Persian influence, such as Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, India, Pakistan and Turkey, use the word Ramazan or Ramzan. The word Romzan is used in Bangladesh.

Observance rates

According to a 2012 Pew Research Centre study, there was widespread Ramadan observance, with a median of 93 percent across the thirty-nine countries and territories studied.[97] Regions with high percentages of fasting among Muslims include Southeast Asia, South Asia, Middle East and North Africa, Horn of Africa and most of Sub-Saharan Africa.[97] Percentages are lower in Central Asia and Southeast Europe.[97]

Laws

In some Muslim countries, eating in public during daylight hours in Ramadan is a crime.[98][99][100] The sale of alcohol becomes prohibited during Ramadan in Egypt.[101] The penalty for publicly eating, drinking or smoking during Ramadan can result in fines or incarceration in the countries of Kuwait,[102][103] Saudi Arabia,[104][105][106] Morocco,[107][108] Algeria[109] and Malaysia.[110] In the United Arab Emirates, the punishment is community service.[111]


In some countries, on the contrary, the observance of Ramadan has been restricted by governments. In the USSR, the practice of Ramadan was suppressed by officials.[112][113] In Albania, Ramadan festivities were banned during the communist period.[114] However, many Albanians continued to fast secretly during this period.[115]


China is reported to have banned Ramadan fasting for officials, students, and teachers in Xinjiang since 2012.[116][117][118] Radio Free Asia alleged that residents in Kashgar Prefecture were encouraged to report those who fasted to the authorities.[119] The ban has been denied by Chinese diplomats[120] and Muslim associations in Xinjiang.[121] Antara News,[122] Daily Times,[123] and Pakistan Today have also brought up accounts of residents in Xinjiang fasting.[124] 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".[125]


Some countries impose modified work schedules. In the UAE, employees may work no more than six hours per day and thirty-six hours per week. Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait have similar laws.[126]

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 the Kennedy Space Center in Florida would center their fast according to sunrise and sunset times in Cape Canaveral, in Florida's Eastern Time. This includes times for daily prayers, as well as sunset and sunrise for Ramadan.[143][144]

Employment during Ramadan

Muslims continue to work during Ramadan;[145][146] however, in some countries, such as Oman and Lebanon, working hours are shortened.[147][148] 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.[149] The extent to which Ramadan observers are protected by religious 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.[150][151][152] An Arab News article reported that Saudi Arabian businesses were unhappy with shorter working hours during Ramadan, some reporting a decline in productivity of 35–50%.[153] The Saudi businesses proposed awarding salary bonuses in order to incentivize longer hours.[154] Despite the reduction in productivity, merchants can enjoy higher profit margins in Ramadan due to increase in demand.[155]

Fasting and abstinence of the Coptic Orthodox Church

Shraavana

Complete Guide to Ramadhan including Rules, Duas, Itikaaf, Laylatul Qadr, Sadaqatul Fitr etc.

(archived 15 May 2015)

Articles on Ramadan

Ramadan news and articles