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The month of Ramadan is a sacred time of the year for Muslims around the world. It’s a time of spiritual rejuvenation, gratitude, and compassion for others.
Ramadan presents the best opportunity for Muslims to pray, donate, and perform good deeds to reap rewards and enter paradise Insha’Allah.
There are certain rules to Muslims must abide by during Ramadan. These include fasting, which is one of the 5 pillars of Islam.
We’ve explored the Ramadan rules below, so if you’re new to Islam or need a refresher, read on to ensure you’re best prepare for the holy month.
Ramadan is observed in the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, which means its dates shift approximately 10 to 12 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar. This fluctuation happens because the Islamic calendar is based on the moon’s cycle, rather than the solar cycle, which the Gregorian calendar follows.
As a result, the exact start and end dates of Ramadan vary each year.
Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new moon and lasts for 29 or 30 days, ending with the sighting of the next new moon.
Ramadan can fall in different seasons depending on the geographical location and over time, Muslims will observe Ramadan at many different times of year.
Find out when Ramadan is expected to start and end by visiting our Ramadan timetable.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam. Muslims should not eat food or drink any liquids and should abstain from sexual activities from sunrise to sunset every day of the holy month.
There are a number of other things that should be abstained from during this time, including:
Ramadan is a month of self-reflection. You should try your best to remove yourself from environments where swearing and arguments may occur.
When it comes to rules and guidelines for fasting during Ramadan, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has clearly defined them.
According to the sunnah, while fasting, Muslims must refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk, as well as sexual activity, as these actions invalidate the fast. Additionally, we should avoid any sinful behaviour as this is impermissible, even if it may not necessarily break the fast itself.
Instead, you should spend your time worshipping Allah (SWT) and asking for His unending mercy, blessings, and forgiveness.
During Ramadan, Muslims can only eat food and drink liquids after they have broken their fast at maghrib (sunset) until sunrise, the time between iftar and suhoor meals.
That means Muslims can’t eat or drink anything during daylight hours.
There are 2 opportunities to eat during Ramadan: in the early morning before sunrise (suhoor) and after sunset in the evening (iftar).
Not every Muslim will be able to fast during Ramadan. The following are exempt:
If you miss a fast, you are liable to either make it up or pay fidya.
For those who cannot fast during the month of Ramadan or who miss a few days, it is preferred that they make up their fast later in the year.
If it is not possible for a person to make up the fast during the year, for example for health reasons, they may pay fidya in the form of a charitable donation.
Find out more about the holy month of Ramadan.