Guide to Ramadan
Suggest editThe Blessed Month of Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and the holiest month of the year. Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) made fasting during this month one of the five pillars of Islam. He says in the Quran: "O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you — that you may become righteous." (Al-Baqarah 2:183). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained." (Bukhari and Muslim). It is a month of worship, discipline, gratitude, and spiritual renewal for the entire Muslim community.
The fast of Ramadan begins at the sighting of the new crescent moon (hilal). Scholars across all four madhabs agree that the month begins with a verified moon sighting, either locally or through reliable transmission from another region, according to differing scholarly positions on this question. Once confirmed, every Muslim who has reached puberty, is sane, resident, and not in a state that exempts them (illness, travel, pregnancy, nursing, or menstruation) is obligated to fast.
The Fast: Niyyah, Suhoor, and Iftar
Fasting begins at Fajr (the true dawn) and ends at Maghrib (sunset). Before Fajr, the fasting person should make an intention (niyyah) to fast for the sake of Allah. The Hanafi madhab holds that a separate niyyah must be made each night before Fajr for the following day's fast. The Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools have differing positions on whether a single intention at the start of the month suffices, though making niyyah nightly is recommended in all madhabs.
Suhoor — the pre-dawn meal — is a confirmed Sunnah (Sunnah mu'akkadah). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Have suhoor, for in suhoor there is blessing." (Bukhari and Muslim). Even a sip of water or a date counts as suhoor. It is recommended to delay suhoor until close to Fajr time. At Maghrib, the fast is broken with iftar. It is Sunnah to break the fast immediately at sunset — delay is disliked — and to break it with dates and water, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) did. The supplication at iftar, "Allahumma laka sumtu wa bika amantu wa 'alayka tawakkaltu wa 'ala rizqika aftartu," is narrated in the hadith collections.
The fast prohibits eating, drinking, smoking, and marital relations from Fajr to Maghrib. Intentional violation of any of these without a valid excuse requires making up the day (qada') and, for eating or drinking deliberately, a severe expiation (kaffarah) in the Hanafi position. Involuntary actions — forgetting, genuine error, being forced — do not break the fast according to authenticated hadith.
Spiritual Practices: Taraweeh, Quran, and Dhikr
Ramadan is the month of the Quran. Allah revealed it in this month, and Muslims are encouraged to recite and reflect on it daily. Taraweeh — the night prayers performed after 'Isha throughout Ramadan — are a Sunnah established by the Prophet (peace be upon him) and systematized during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). The scholarly consensus accepts both eight and twenty rak'ahs of taraweeh as valid. Many mosques complete a full recitation (khatm) of the Quran through taraweeh over the course of the month.
Laylat al-Qadr — the Night of Decree — is the most significant night in the Islamic year. Allah describes it in Surah Al-Qadr as better than a thousand months. The Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged seeking it in the last ten nights of Ramadan, particularly the odd nights (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th). I'tikaf — seclusion in the mosque for worship during the last ten days — is a strong Sunnah that the Prophet (peace be upon him) observed every year until his death. It involves dedicating oneself entirely to prayer, Quran recitation, dhikr, and supplication.
Zakat al-Fitr and the End of Ramadan
Before the 'Eid prayer that marks the end of Ramadan, every Muslim who has food beyond their basic needs is obligated to give Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of themselves and their dependents. The Prophet (peace be upon him) prescribed it as a purification for the fasting person and as food for the poor. It is given as a quantity of staple food — one sa' (roughly 2.5–3 kg) per person — or its monetary equivalent according to some scholars. It must be distributed before the 'Eid prayer to fulfill its purpose; giving it after is valid as general charity but does not fulfill the obligation.
Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, a day of communal celebration, gratitude, and generosity. The month is an opportunity to build habits of worship, generosity, and self-discipline that carry through the rest of the year. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven." (Bukhari and Muslim). Making the most of this blessed month — through sincerity, effort, community, and turning to Allah — is among the greatest gifts a Muslim can pursue.