Muslims all around the world will soon start observing Ramadan, and it's likely you'll know or come across someone who is fasting. But if you're not Muslim yourself, or don't know much about Islam, you might only have a vague understanding of the religious practice.
You might be wondering what exactly Ramadan is, and why Muslims observe it in the first place. How long does it last for? Do all Muslims fast? Are they allowed to have a sip of water?
To fill you in on the basics, we've answered some common questions about Ramadan. You can read what it feels like to go without food and water for 18 hours a day during a month in Ramadan here.
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1. What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the Arabic name for the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is regarded as one of the holiest months of the year for Muslims. They believe that God revealed the first verses of the Quran, Islam's sacred book, to Prophet Mohammed more than 1,400 years ago during this month - specifically, on one of the last ten nights of Ramadan, known as the "Night of Power" (or Laylat al-Qadr in Arabic). During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims fast every day during daylight hours.
2. Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan?
Muslims fast so that they can strengthen their relationship with Allah (or God) and focus more on their faith. Abstaining from food and drink is in keeping with sawm (Arabic for "to refrain"), which is one of the five pillars of Islam. The pillars are the core beliefs and practices of the religion that Muslims must follow in their lifetime.
As the Encyclopaedia Britannica explains, "although sawm is most commonly understood as the obligation to fast during Ramadan, it is more broadly interpreted as the obligation to refrain between dawn and dusk from food, drink, sexual activity, and all forms of immoral behaviour, including impure or unkind thoughts". So during Ramadan, Muslims not only fast, but also abstain from indulgence and immorality.
Removing such worldly distractions means Muslims have time and energy to practice self-discipline, improve themselves, break bad habits, and, ultimately, get closer to Allah. During the month, they might spend more time reading the Quran and donating to charity. Having no food and drink all day also reminds Muslims that they rely on Allah for nourishment, and also allows them to empathise with those in need.
3. Can Muslims drink water when fasting?
Nope, nothing can be ingested - so they can't drink water, take oral medication, smoke cigarettes or chew gum.
4. Why does Ramadan start on a different day every year?
The charity Muslim Aid explains that "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 sighting of the crescent moon - which is usually one night after the new moon - marks the start of the month of Ramadan. This means the start can vary by one day from country to country if the crescent moon is sighted in one country but not yet in another.
5. When does Ramadan begin 2022 in the UK?
Ramadan is expected to start on Saturday April 2 this year , but it could begin a day later depending on the sighting of the crescent moon.
6. How long is Ramadan?
Like all lunar months, the holy month of Ramadan lasts between or 29 or 30 days, depending on when the next crescent moon is seen. If it isn't sighted on the 29th day, Muslims must fast on the 30th day, too.
7. Do all Muslims have to fast?
No - Muslims are required to fast only if they can, and there are some exceptions:
- If you're unwell, or if fasting will affect your health
- If you're menstruating
- If you're pregnant, breastfeeding or bleeding after childbirth
- If you're travelling
- If you're very young or old.
Any Muslim who misses a day or days of fasting should make up for the days later on when they are able to do so. Children are generally expected to fast when they reach puberty.
8. For how many hours do Mu slims have to fast?
Muslims fast from dawn until dusk, so the times change slightly every day and the number of hours can differ dramatically depending on the time of the year. This means that this year, as the month goes on and we get closer to summer, the fasting period will gradually increase. You can view the timetable for Ramadan 2022 on the Islamic Relief website, which has the exact times for sunrise and sunset.
9. How does fasting work, and what is a typical day like?
The day begins before sunrise, with a pre-dawn meal known as Suhoor . Anyone fasting must finish this meal by the time of the Fajr prayer, which is the first prayer of the day at dawn. They then won't eat or drink until sunset but will continue with their day as normal, such as by going to school or work. However, businesses, workplaces and schools in some Islamic countries may shorten their working hours or open only in the evening after sunset (restaurants especially) to accommodate those who are fasting.
During the day before Muslims will also carry out their normal daily prayers of Dhuhr (noon prayer) and Asr (afternoon prayer). Muslims break their fast at sunset, marked by the Maghrib prayer, with a meal known as Iftar . Traditionally, they eat dates first before anything else, which is what they believe Prophet Mohammed did. Usually Iftar is eaten with friends and family, and mosques usually host the meal too for all to attend. After Iftar , Muslims pray the last prayer of the day ( Isha ), and then may attend optional special prayers known as Taraweeh , usually in a mosque. Taraweeh is longer than the normal prayers and involves recitations from the Quran.
10. What happens if they eat/drink by mistake?
It's understandable that those fasting may slip up without thinking, especially at the start of the month or if it's their first Ramadan. Thankfully, eating or drinking accidentally does not invalidate the fast and you can carry on as normal.
11. What happens when Ramadan is over?
After a long month of fasting every day, Muslims celebrate Eid-al-Fitr , which means "Festival of Breaking the Fast". It's a three-day joyous occasion, which involves special morning prayers, lavish feasts, gift-giving and spending time with family and friends.
