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Ramadan holds deep meaning for millions of Muslims around the world. It is characterised by fasting from dawn till dusk, performing extra rituals, and breaking the fast with iftar meals in a shared celebration.
While Ramadan brings joy, millions will mark it amid ongoing conflict, economic instability, climate shocks, and rising food and energy prices. Many won’t know where their next meal is coming from or how they will break their fast.
This is where you can help.
Donating your Zakat is not merely charity. It is worship. It is our sacred duty. It’s about responsibility and about fulfilling a right that Allah has placed upon us.
At Islamic Relief, we don’t simply deliver relief – we fulfil an Amanah. Every zakat is sacred and is carried with the sincerity it deserves.
Throughout the holy month, the blessings and impact of your zakat donations are even greater. With your support, we can improve the lives of vulnerable communities around the world, easing their suffering during this sacred month.
We know the weight of our responsibilities to those we serve, to you, and ultimately to Allah (SWT).
Support our life-saving work and donate your zakat and sadaqah for the sake of Allah.
During Ramadan, your donations can make a real difference for families and communities in need around the world.
In 2025, your donations helped us deliver more than 155,000 food parcels to families across 32 countries, benefitting some 840,000 people.
By giving your zakat or sadaqah through Islamic Relief, you will be supporting lifesaving programmes that can provide food, clean water, shelter and healthcare to vulnerable people.
Our rightsholders are the people we serve.
With a global community of 15 million rightsholders on average who rely on us each year. We are committed to deliver on our mission to alleviate poverty around the world.
Discover more about our work with our rightsholders and how we’ve been trusted to safely deliver on your donations.
I managed to get through the most difficult times of my life because of Allah (SWT) and generous Islamic Relief supporters like you.
Today, Roa is walking and eating again. Her speech is improving every day too. Through Allah (SWT) and with your support she’s defied the doctors’ expectations! Alhamdulillah. May Allah gather us in Jannah, so, that we may eat the fruits of Jannah together.
Ihsan, Roa’s mother
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar.
Healthy adult Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan from dawn until dusk. Therefore this includes abstaining from drinking, eating, immoral acts and anger. Other acts of worship such as prayer, reading the Qur’an and charity are also encouraged during the holy month.
Ramadan in 2026 is expected to begin on Thursday 19 February 2026, and end on the evening of Friday 20 March 2026, depending on the sighting of the moon.
Ramadan officially begins when the Islamic month of Shaban ends, and the new moon of Ramadan is sighted. The next Ramadan is expected to begin on Thursday 19 February 2026.
Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim celebration, officially marks the end of Ramadan. The exact timing is based on the sighting of the moon. Eid al-Fitr officially begins at the start of the Islamic month of Shawwal. Next Ramadan is expected to end on the evening of Friday 20 March 2026 depending on the sighting of the moon.
The last day of fasting for Ramadan 2026 will be Friday 20 March, depending on the sighting of the moon. Unlike the Gregorian calendar we use today, the Islamic calendar operates on the lunar cycle. This means that all significant days in the Islamic calendar appear to shift forward approximately 11 days each year. Therefore, the sighting of the moon determines the end of the month–long period of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid.
If you’ve missed any fasts out of necessity and will never be able to fast to make up the lost days afterwards, you’re required to pay Fidyah (Fidya). For any other missed fasts you will need to make them up. For any fasts broken deliberately without need in the Hanafi madhab you would need to make up the fast and also pay kaffarah. In the Hanbali and Shafi madhabs you would need to make up the fast and only pay kaffarah if it was broken by marital relations.
In 2026, Eid ul-Fitr is likely to take place on Friday 20 March 2026, depending on the sighting of the moon.
However, as with each day in the Islamic calendar, the next day begins after Maghrib prayer (just after sunset) of the same day. Therefore, Eid technically begins after the moon has been sighted (which is likely to be on Wednesday 18 March), but Eid prayers and celebrations take place the following day which will be Thursday 19 March 2026.
Laylatul Qadr, also referred to as the Night of Power, is one of the most important and sacred nights in the Islamic calendar. We can find Laylatul Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan. It is a commonly held belief that it occurs on the 27th of Ramadan, which is expected to fall on the evening of Sunday 15th March 2026, depending on the sighting of the moon. Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) said: “search for the night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.”
The Prophet (PBUH) would give charity throughout the year but increase his sadaqah during Ramadan. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “The Prophet (PBUH) was the most generous of people, and he was most generous during Ramadan.” (Bukhari)
Allah says in the Qur’an:
“…those who believe are they who are steadfast in prayer and give Zakat with humility.” (Quran 5:55)
This Ramadan we want to impress upon everyone the importance of Zakat. Zakat could have the power to end global poverty – this is the power of Zakat.
According to the UN, the amount needed to achieve the first two Sustainable Development Goals – to end extreme poverty and hunger globally – is approximately S$300 billion.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent to bring Islam to the entire world. So if we imagine that everyone around the globe gave 2.5% of their wealth to those in need, the annual amount would be trillions of dollars. Imagine what could be done with that!
Yes – Zakat could have the power to end poverty. If everyone around the world gave 2.5% of their wealth as Zakat we could end poverty together, SubhanAllah!
Of course, ending poverty isn’t simple. Conflict, inequality, water shortages, climate change, lack of education, poor public infrastructure and basic human greed all create and shape poverty.
Allah has shown us the way – all we need to do is follow. That is the power of Zakat.
Almost 40 years of delivering relief to people around the world makes us one of the longest-serving Muslim charities in the world, Alhumdulillah.
An independent Zakat Advisory Board, made up of a group of respected scholars, has ratified our Zakat policy, and continues to provide advice to ensure our Zakat policy is Shari’ah-compliant.
Islamic Relief is the only Muslim charity that is part of the DEC. We’ve been a member alongside Oxfam, British Red Cross, Save the Children and others since 2005.
We don’t say that we have a ‘100% donation policy’. The truth is, it costs every single charity money to deliver relief – and we think you’d prefer us to be real about it.
We are one of only five UK based charities with HQAI (The Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative) accreditation. The HQAI are an independent and objective assurance body, which examines how we use your donations in detail every year, and makes sure they are being used as effectively as possible.
Islamic Relief was awarded ‘Charity of the Year’ at the Charity Times Awards 2023, recognising Islamic Relief’s international work over the course of 2023, and in particular the efforts in responding to the Pakistan floods and the Turkiye-Syria earthquake.
Ramadan lasts either 29 or 30 days, and the time during which it takes place varies every year. This is because the date depends on the lunar calendar, which is roughly 10 or 11 days shorter than the commonly used Gregorian calendar
The meaning of Kareem is generous/noble. Ramadan is a month where Allah forgives, blesses and rewards Muslims without a limit.
Therefore, it is an expression that is used to welcome the month of Ramadan by Muslims around the world.
Every day during Ramadan, Muslims begin the fast at dawn after having a meal (Suhoor), after which the morning Fajr prayer is prayed. The fast isn’t broken until dusk with the Iftar meal, which precedes the Maghrib, the fourth prayer of the day.