Ramadan (The Month of Fasting)
The holy month of fasting, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان) is the ninth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar and is the holiest month for Muslims. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from Fajr (dawn) to Maghrib (sunset) as one of Islam's five pillars.
Fasting (sawm) involves abstaining from food, drink and other physical needs from dawn to sunset. The purpose is to attain taqwa (God-consciousness), to train self-discipline, to empathize with the poor and hungry, and to draw closer to Allah through worship.
Ramadan is also the month in which the Quran was revealed: "The month of Ramadan, in which the Quran was sent down as guidance for mankind" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185). Therefore, special emphasis is placed on Quran recitation and Tarawih prayer during this month.
Fasting hours vary significantly by location — from around 9 hours in winter to up to 19 hours in summer at higher latitudes.
Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree) falls within the last ten days of Ramadan and is "better than a thousand months" (Surah Al-Qadr 97:3). Many Muslims intensify their worship during these nights.
Related terms
Nafilah (Voluntary Prayer)
Voluntary extra prayers beyond the five obligatory daily prayers.
Salat al-Tasbih (The Prayer of Glorification)
A special voluntary prayer with 300 tasbih recitations, recommended for forgiveness of sins.
Rak'ah (Prayer Cycle)
A single cycle of movements and recitations in the Islamic prayer.
Kaaba (Allah's Sacred House)
The holiest building in Islam, in Mecca, toward which all Muslims face in prayer.
Isnad (Chain of Narration)
The chain of narrators connecting a hadith back to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Masjid (Mosque)
The Islamic house of worship, where Muslims gather for congregational prayer.