What Is Ramadan? The Month of Fasting

Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان) is pronounced ra-ma-DAAN. The name comes from a root meaning intense heat.

Meaning

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Fasting during it is one of the five pillars of Islam. The Qur’an explains why this month is special — and shows the mercy built into the fast:

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٨٥﴾

The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.

What Muslims do

Every day of Ramadan, adult Muslims who are able fast from the first light of dawn until sunset, without food, drink or marital relations. They usually eat a pre-dawn meal (suhur) and break the fast at sunset (iftar), often with dates and water, and often with family, friends and neighbours.

But Ramadan is about much more than hunger. Muslims try to pray more, read more of the Qur’an — many complete it during the month — give generously, guard their tongues and mend broken relationships. Many mosques hold special night prayers called tarawih. The last ten nights are especially precious, because one of them is Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power, when the revelation of the Qur’an began.

Those who are ill, travelling, pregnant, nursing, elderly or otherwise unable to fast are excused, and make up the days later or feed a poor person instead, according to their situation.

Because the Islamic calendar follows the moon, Ramadan moves about eleven days earlier each year, so over a lifetime Muslims fast in every season. It ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr.

Example

“Ramadan Kareem!” — “Generous Ramadan!”, a common greeting during the month.

For more on the fast itself, read Sawm and The Five Pillars.