What is Ramadan and how do Muslims observe the Islamic holy month?

Muslims gather for Friday prayers at Al-Azhar Mosque, the leading Islamic institution in the Sunni Muslim world, during Ramadan in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday, April 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

By  NEWS BLEND 360

Updated 1:39 AM EST, February 28, 2025

CAIRO (NB360) — Soon, observant Muslims worldwide will engage in daily fasting from dawn until sunset as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins. For Muslims, it is a period of enhanced worship, religious contemplation, charity, and good deeds. Socially, it often brings families and friends together for festive meals to break their fast.

Following Ramadan is the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

The religious practices and spiritual core of Ramadan unite various Muslim communities globally. The struggles of fellow Muslims and issues with international significance, such as conflicts and political instability, can become focal points for prayers, donations, or advocacy during the month for many.

This year, Ramadan arrives as the delicate ceasefire agreement, which has halted over 15 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas, approaches the conclusion of its initial phase.

Israel’s military campaign has resulted in the deaths of over 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and has devastated large parts of Gaza. The conflict was triggered by an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, where Hamas-led militants killed approximately 1,200 people and captured around 250 hostages.

For some Muslims, Ramadan also coincides with changes in their countries. In the Middle East, for example, this will be the first Ramadan for Syrians since the Syrian government collapsed in a dramatic end to decades of Assad family rule.

Muslims gather on Ampera Bridge in Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia, to perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, on Saturday, April 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara, File)

WHEN IS RAMADAN?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and it moves through the seasons.

The beginning of the month is traditionally based on the sighting of the crescent moon. This year, the first day is anticipated to be around March 1.

The exact start date may differ among Muslim communities due to various Islamic authorities worldwide declaring whether the crescent has been sighted or using different methods to determine the month's start.

WHY AND HOW DO MUSLIMS FAST?

Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, alongside the declaration of faith, prayer, almsgiving, and pilgrimage.

Muslims find various meanings and lessons in fasting.

It is considered an act of worship to achieve God-conscious piety and a form of submission to God. The faithful see benefits such as practicing self-restraint, drawing closer to God, fostering gratitude, and empathizing with those who are poor and hungry.

The daily fast during Ramadan involves abstaining from all food and drink – not even a sip of water is permitted – from dawn until sunset, before breaking the fast with a meal known as “iftar” in Arabic. Those fasting are also expected to avoid bad deeds, such as gossip, and to increase good deeds.

Muslims often gather in mosques for congregational prayers and devote more time to religious reflection and reading the Quran, the Muslim holy book.

Charity is a key aspect of Ramadan. Among other forms of giving, many aim to provide iftar for those in need by distributing Ramadan boxes filled with pantry staples, handing out warm meals along with items like dates and juice, or organizing free communal meals.

Muslims consume a pre-dawn meal, called “suhoor,” to hydrate and nourish their bodies in preparation for the daily fast.

Worshippers gather for Friday prayers at Al-Azhar Mosque, the leading Islamic institution in the Sunni Muslim world, during the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday, April 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)

ARE THERE EXEMPTIONS FROM FASTING?

Yes. There are specific exemptions from fasting, such as for individuals who cannot fast due to illness or travel. Those who are temporarily ill or traveling and unable to fast must compensate for the missed fasting days at a later time.

WHAT ARE SOME CULTURAL AND SOCIAL TRADITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH RAMADAN?

Muslims come from a wide range of ethnic and racial backgrounds, and not all Ramadan traditions are based on religion. Some practices may cross borders, while others vary between cultures.

Many social customs focus on gathering and socializing after breaking the daily fast. Some Muslims decorate their homes, use Ramadan-themed tableware and centerpieces, or visit markets and Ramadan bazaars.

In Egypt, the most populous country in the Arab world, Ramadan is usually a festive period.

Colorful lanterns of various shapes and sizes hang from children's hands and decorate homes or the entrances of buildings and shops. Ramadan songs might be played to mark the beginning of the month.

In Egypt, the sounds of Ramadan have traditionally included the pre-dawn drumming by a “mesaharati” who walks through neighborhoods, calling out to the faithful, sometimes by name, to wake them for the suhoor meal.

Muslim girls carry torches in a parade celebrating the eve of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan, in Polewali Mandar, West Sulawesi, Indonesia, on Friday, April 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Yusuf Wahil, File)

NEW TV SHOWS, COMMUNAL MEALS

A new lineup of television series is a regular feature of the month in some countries, with advertisers vying for viewers' attention.

In different regions, some Muslims express concern that the month is becoming commercialized, fearing that a focus on decorations, TV shows, outings, or extravagant iftar banquets, especially in the social media age, might detract from Ramadan’s spiritual significance. Others believe that a balance can be achieved and that, when done in moderation, such activities contribute to the month’s festive atmosphere.

In Indonesia, Ramadan rituals vary across regions, showcasing the diversity of local cultures.

In Indonesia’s highly conservative Aceh province, people slaughter animals during Meugang celebrations. The meat is prepared and shared in a communal meal with family, friends, the poor, and orphans.

In Tangerang, a city near Jakarta, hundreds of residents gather at the Cisadane River to wash their hair with rice straw shampoo, symbolically welcoming the fasting month with a spiritual cleansing.

Throughout Sumatra island, after evening prayers, many boys and girls march through the streets, carrying torches and singing Islamic songs.

In India, where the Muslim minority exceeds 200 million people, street stalls sell items like dates, sweets, and freshly prepared food. At night, certain neighborhoods in New Delhi become vibrant as Muslims attend prayers at mosques.

Some Indian Muslims also visit Sufi shrines adorned with lights and colorful flowers.

In the United States, where Muslims form a diverse minority, gathering at mosques and Islamic centers for iftar meals and prayers provides many Muslim families with a sense of community. Some Muslims also host or attend interfaith iftar dinners.

Several major U.S. retailers have begun catering to Ramadan shoppers, offering Ramadan-themed decorations.

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News Blend 360 writers in New Delhi contributed.