Ramadan

About Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, in which the Quran is believed to have begun to be revealed. Muslims who are able fast from first light until sunset, abstaining from food, drink and other pleasures, and spend extra time in prayer, reading the Quran and giving to those in need. The day's fast is broken at sunset with dates and water, followed by the iftar meal, often shared with family, neighbours and strangers at mosques and in streets. Before dawn, the family wakes for suhoor. In many towns a drummer, a musaharati, walks the streets calling people up. Special night prayers, taraweeh, are held at the mosque. The month ends with Eid. Because the calendar follows the moon, Ramadan moves about eleven days earlier each year.

Ramadan dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

This date follows the moon or a local calendar and can move by a day, so check with a local source nearer the time.

What is eaten

• dates
• lentil soup
• samosa
• harira
• qatayef
• haleem

Traditions of Ramadan

IftarThe meal that breaks the fast.SuhurThe pre-dawn meal.

More marked on Ramadan

🇹🇷 TurkeyRamadan in Turkey A holy month of fasting, prayer, and community meals, observed across Turkey with unique local customs.Spiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast 🇮🇩 Jakarta, Indonesia and 2 moreMudik Indonesians head home to family before Lebaran, in the year's biggest journeyHome 🇮🇷 Tehran, IranTa'ziyehتعزیه A ritual drama from Iran that retells the Karbala mourning each MuharramSpiritual 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 4 moreLebaranHari Raya Lebaran Indonesia's festive season of homecoming, seeking forgiveness and shared feastsFestival · Breakfast 🇳🇬 Kano, NigeriaDurbar festival An equestrian gathering marking Muslim holidays across northern Nigerian emiratesFestival 🇵🇰 Pakistan and 3 moreChaand Raatचाँद रात, چاند رات The South Asian night of moon-sighting and celebration before EidFestival 🇹🇷 Bursa, Turkey and 5 moreKaragöz and Hacivat A Turkish shadow play of two quarrelling friends, acted on a lit screen behind a curtainPerformance 🇪🇬 Cairo, EgyptFanousفانوس An Egyptian lantern of metal and glass, hung in streets and homes through RamadanFestival 🇧🇩 BangladeshNight of Powerليلة القدر The night Muslims believe the Quran first came down, sought in Ramadan's last ten nightsSpiritual 🇲🇾 Malaysia and 1 moreMalam Tujuh Likurمالم توجوه ليكور The Malay custom of lighting oil lamps during the closing nights of Ramadan.Spiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast 🇮🇩 Yogyakarta, IndonesiaPadusan A Javanese purification bath kept by the Abangan community before Ramadan begins.Spiritual 🇲🇻 MaldivesMaahefun A Maldivian gathering for the last meal before the Ramadan fast beginsTable custom · Feasts and festival meals 🇩🇿 AlgeriaWezeeaوزيعة A communal meat-sharing custom fostering rural solidarity across AlgeriaSpiritual · Feasts and festival meals 🇳🇪 Niger and 1 moreSitta min Shawwalستة من شوال A voluntary six-day Islamic fast observed during the month following RamadanSpiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast