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Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar — a 29- or 30-day period of dawn-to-sunset fasting (sawm), increased prayer, and Qur’an recitation observed by an estimated 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide. Because the Hijri calendar is purely lunar, Ramadan shifts about 11 days earlier each Gregorian year.
When does Ramadan begin?
Ramadan begins on the 1st of the 9th Islamic month, marked by the sighting of the crescent moon (hilal) of Ramadan after the new moon of Sha’ban. The decision is made one of two ways depending on the country:
- Astronomical calculation (Umm al-Qura): Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and most Gulf states follow the official Umm al-Qura calendar, which uses the conjunction of the moon at the meridian of Mecca to fix the start of each lunar month.
- Local moon sighting (Ru’yah): Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Morocco, South Africa, and many local mosques in Europe and North America wait for a verified naked-eye sighting of the crescent in their region.
Because the lunar year is roughly 354 days versus the Gregorian 365.25, Ramadan shifts about 10–11 days earlier each year and cycles through every Gregorian season over roughly 33 years.
Upcoming Ramadan start dates
Estimated first day of Ramadan based on the Umm al-Qura calendar. Actual start in countries that rely on local moon sighting may shift by ±1 day.
| Year (Hijri) | 1st of Ramadan | Day of week |
|---|---|---|
| 1448 AH (2027) | February 8, 2027 | Monday |
| 1449 AH (2028) | January 28, 2028 | Friday |
| 1450 AH (2029) | January 16, 2029 | Tuesday |
| 1451 AH (2030) | January 5, 2030 | Saturday |
| 1452 AH (2030) | December 26, 2030 | Thursday |
History & origin
According to Islamic tradition, the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad on the 27th night of Ramadan in 610 CE in the cave of Hira’ on Mount Jabal al-Nour, near Mecca. The verse instructing Muslims to fast during Ramadan (Qur’an 2:183–185) was revealed in Medina around 624 CE, two years after the Hijra (the Prophet’s migration from Mecca to Medina that marks Year 1 of the Hijri calendar).
Sawm (fasting in Ramadan) became one of the Five Pillars of Islam — alongside the Shahada (declaration of faith), Salah (five daily prayers), Zakat (obligatory almsgiving), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). The pillar requires healthy adult Muslims to abstain from food, drink, smoking, and marital relations from Fajr (dawn) to Maghrib (sunset) for the entire month.
Observance & traditions
- Suhoor — the pre-dawn meal eaten before Fajr prayer. Tradition encourages eating it close to dawn rather than earlier in the night.
- Iftar — the meal that breaks the fast immediately after sunset (Maghrib). Customarily begun with dates and water, following the Prophet’s sunnah.
- Taraweeh — extra congregational night prayers performed after Isha, typically completing one juz’ (1/30th) of the Qur’an each night so the full text is recited over the month.
- I’tikaf — spiritual retreat in the mosque during the last ten nights, in search of Laylat al-Qadr.
- Zakat al-Fitr — a small obligatory charity (roughly the cost of one meal per family member) paid before Eid al-Fitr prayer to ensure all Muslims can celebrate.
- Sadaqah — voluntary charity; many Muslims dramatically increase giving during Ramadan, particularly in the last ten nights.
Sources & references
- Umm al-Qura Calendar — official lunar calendar of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, maintained by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).
- moonsighting.com — global crescent visibility forecasts and confirmed sighting reports.
- HM Nautical Almanac Office — Crescent MoonWatch — UK Hydrographic Office's lunar visibility data.
- Qur’an 2:183–185 — the verses prescribing the Ramadan fast.
FAQs
The Islamic Hijri calendar is purely lunar — 12 lunar months of 29 or 30 days, totalling about 354 days. The Gregorian calendar tracks the solar year of 365.25 days. The ~11-day gap means each Islamic month, including Ramadan, drifts about 11 days earlier on the Gregorian calendar each year. Over roughly 33 years Ramadan cycles through every Gregorian season.
Saudi Arabia and most Gulf states follow the Umm al-Qura calendar, which is based on astronomical calculation of the new moon as seen from Mecca. Other countries (including Pakistan, parts of India, Morocco, and some Western mosques) wait for a local naked-eye sighting of the crescent moon (hilal). Cloud cover, latitude, and the moon's angular separation from the sun all affect visibility, so start dates can differ by one day between regions.
Ramadan is either 29 or 30 days, ending when the crescent moon of the following month (Shawwal) is sighted. The exact length is only known once the next moon is confirmed. The day after Ramadan ends is Eid al-Fitr, the 1st of Shawwal.
Laylat al-Qadr (the “Night of Power”) is regarded as the night the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to Muhammad. It falls in the last ten nights of Ramadan, with the 27th night most commonly observed, though hadith indicate it could be on any of the odd-numbered nights (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, or 29th).
The Qur’an (2:184–185) exempts those who are ill, travelling, pregnant, breastfeeding, menstruating, elderly, or pre-pubescent. Those temporarily exempted (illness, travel, menstruation) are required to make up the missed days later. Permanently exempted Muslims may instead pay fidya, feeding a person in need for each missed day.
Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal taken before Fajr (dawn prayer) and the start of the fast. Iftar is the meal that breaks the fast immediately after Maghrib (sunset prayer). Tradition holds that the fast should be broken with dates and water, following the practice of Muhammad.