Ramadan the Month of Fasting Mercy Festival in Islam

What is the Ramadan holiday?

Ramadan begins. Ramadan (also known as Ramadhan or Ramzan) is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is a time when Muslims around the world focus on prayer, fasting, giving to charity, and religious devotion.

What is the Ramadan fast?

Thursday is the start of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month marked by daily fasting(no food and no water) from dawn to sunset, increased religious observance and self-reflection. For 30 days, followers of Islam pray and refrain from smoking, bad behavior — including cursing, gossiping or fighting — and impure thoughts.

What is Ramadan and when does it start?



Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim year, during which strict fasting is observed in daylight hours, begins on 18 June this year and ends on the evening of 17 July. Many Muslims try to give up bad habits during Ramadan and some will pray more or read the Koran.

Is tomorrow Ramadan or not?

UPDATE: The moon was not sighted on Tuesday, and as Wednesday is the last day of the month of Shaaban, Ramadan will begin on Thursday. "Tomorrow is the end of the month of Shaaban and Thursday is the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan," the Saudi Arabia Supreme Court reportedly said.

What's the history of Ramadan?

Ramadan is celebrated as the month during which the Prophet Muhammad received the initial revelations that make up the Quran, the Muslim holy book.

Why is Ramadan at a different time each year?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and begins with the sighting of the new moon. Because the moon can be spotted at different times in various parts of the world — and sometimes because of methodology — Ramadan's start can vary slightly from country to country.

This year, religious authorities in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia and other parts of the world announced based on their sightings of the moon that daily fasting would begin Thursday.

And since the lunar calendar doesn't quite line up with the solar calendar, Ramadan usually moves up by about 11 days each year — and passes through all seasons.

Why do Muslims have to fast?

Fasting and focusing on prayer and charity during Ramadan is meant to purify the body and spirit and bring the faithful closer to God; fasting during the month is also one of the five pillars of Islam.

This year, Ramadan coincides with the start of summer, meaning followers could be in for 15 hours or more of fasting.

In the Twin Cities, at the beginning of Ramadan, dawn will likely happen around 4:45 a.m.; the sun will set around 9 p.m. over the course of the month.

In Europe, there has been ongoing debate about whether Muslims there should follow Ramadan on local time or on Mecca time. Daylight during Ramadan in some parts of Europe can last 16 hours or more, compared to 12 or 13 in Mecca.

Do all Muslims have to fast during Ramadan?

No; usually only those who have reached puberty and are in good health will fast during the holiday.

Pregnant women or those who are nursing, those who are traveling, the elderly and the sick are also usually exempt. Still, that hasn't stopped some diabetic Muslims from following through with the fast.

But remember: Followers of Islam don't fast the entire month. They eat a pre-dawn meal called a "suhoor" and break the fast after sunset each day with a meal known as "iftar," shared with family and friends.

Meanwhile, several schools in London have banned students from fasting during Ramadan over health concerns, unless parents have met with their child's head of school.

Will I see people celebrating Ramadan in public?

Typically, the start of the month is welcomed with greetings such as "Ramadan mubarak!"

Many mosques and aid organizations, including the Abu Khadra Masjid in Columbia Heights, Minn., also organize or host free iftar meals for the public.

Those traveling at airports may see observant Muslims engaging in prayer or going through ablution, the cleansing or washing of certain areas of the the body — usually done in private — in public restrooms before prayer, more often than during other times of the year.