According to the Islamic calendar, Muslims believe it is the year 1446. Every year, Ramadan is a very holy period for Muslims, and during this time, they show gratitude for what they have.
Ramadan commemorates the first revelation of the Quran that was sent to the prophet Muhammed. During Ramadan, duas (prayers) get accepted, and for past sins are forgiven for those who observe with faithful intention. Ramadan starts and ends with the crescent moon. The Islamic calendar is shorter than the Gregorian calendar, which is why Ramadan starts 10-15 days earlier each year. There are very important nights in Ramadan, such as Laylat al-qadr (Night of Power) which is commemorated on one of the last ten nights of Ramadan, usually on the 27th night.
Ramadan is predicted to start the evening of Friday, Feb. 28th and end Saturday, Mar. 29th in 2025. Ramadan doesn’t have an exact date however, as it’s up to the moon.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset abstaining from food and water. Muslims typically wake up before the sun rises and eat the meal that sustains them during the day. Suhoor, such as water, dates and the meal your loved one or yourself makes.
Fasting may sound scary but it’s perfectly healthy to do and gets easier as the month of Ramadan progresses. The reason fasting is part of Ramadan is because it helps build their relationship with Allah by demonstrating self-discipline, patience, showing empathy for those who are less fortunate, and to help focus on your self reflection. Muslims end their fast with Iftar.
Muslims only celebrate two holidays, Eid Al-Fitar and Eid Al-Adha. Eid Al-Fitar commemorates the end of Ramadan which people celebrate by the men going to the Mosque while women create food for guests and give money to the little kids. Eid Al-Adha commemorates the sacrifice made by prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah.
Praying five times a day is a mandatory action for all Muslims, but during the month of Ramadan, it helps deepen your connection with Allah and helps you reflect on yourself. Praying and reciting the Quran allows them to seek forgiveness and grow closer to their faith which ramadan is all about. Taraweeh is a special prayer in which a muslim would recite long portions of the Quran and perform 20 Rakats which is only performed during ramadan.
Muslims also do charity, such as donating food or clothes, almsgiving, acts of kindness and donating to charity organizations. It’s important to Muslims to give back to purify the soul and help those in need.
Ramadan is all about the soul and body, so preparing yourself for Ramadan is spiritual and physical. To prepare your soul reading the holy book, The Quran, is helpful to understand your responsibilities and get closer to Allah, perfecting your prayer and reciting so you can perform your prayers confidently, learn about the prophet Muhammed and his teachings and perform extra prayers.
To prepare your body, eat healthy, reduce your caffeine and stay hydrated. Exercising is also very helpful to boost your energy levels. And lastly to prepare is to have a healthy sleep schedule to ensure you get enough rest and to take naps throughout the day if possible.
