The qu'ran

Understanding Ramadan

01/04/2022

Ramadan is the Arabic name of the ninth-month* of the Islamic calendar. The date of Ramadan in the Gregorian calendar moves forward about 11 days each year due to the different lengths of the Islamic and Gregorian years.

The history of Ramadan

It is considered one of the holiest Islamic months. It’s also one of the Five Pillars of Islam. These are five principles that Muslims believe are compulsory acts ordered by God. It is during the month of Ramadan that Muslims fast.

Muslims believe that some of the first verses of the Islamic holy book, the Qu’ran, were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during the month of Ramadan. Extra emphasis is placed on reciting the Qu’ran at this time.

The fast of Ramadan

The Fast of Ramadan lasts the entire month, which can be 29 or 30 days, depending on the sightings of the moon.

Ramadan is a time when Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is a time of worship and contemplation. Fasting is considered to be an act of worship, which enables Muslims to feel closer to God and strengthen their spiritual health and self-discipline.

During the Fast of Ramadan strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims. They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours. Smoking and sexual relations are also forbidden during fasting.

When is Ramadan

The Islamic calendar follows the phases of the moon, commonly known as the lunar cycle. As a result, the Holy month of Ramadan falls approximately 10 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar. The Ramadan start date for 2022 is expected to begin on Saturday 2 April, following the sighting of the moon over Mecca. Lasting for 30 days, Ramadan will end on Sunday 1 May, with the celebratory days of Eid al-Fitr starting on Monday 2 May or Tuesday 3 May 2022.

Thank you so much to Sara, one of our remote volunteers for writing up this blog!

Published: 1st April, 2022

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