Ramadan commences when a small sliver of the moon, known in astronomical terms as the “waxing crescent,” emerges and becomes visible. And that’s true across the Islamic world. The religious festival of Ramadan only starts when the crescent moon is seen in the skies. Find out all about the moon, and what it means, here. The Islamic calendar is entirely lunar-based, meaning Ramadan shifts earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar. In 2026, Ramadan will begin around Feb. 17-18, depending on when the crescent moon From the crescent moon to the lanterns, each symbol is imbued with unique meaning and history. In this article, we’ll explore some of the essential symbols of Ramadan and their cultural significance. Ramadan starts the day after moon sighting which marks the beginning of a new lunar month, most religious authorities in the Middle East declared Monday is the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, when observant Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. هَلَّ اْلهِلاَلُ and اَهَلَّ اْلهِلاَلُ means the visible crescent moon, while هَلَّ الرَّجُلُ means a man sees or looks at the crescent moon, and اَهَلَّ اْلقَوْمُ اْلهِلاَلَ means the crowd shouts when they see the crescent moon. And هَلَّ الشَّهْرُ means the (new) month begins (with the appearance of the crescent moon). A man looks at members of the Malaysian Islamic authority as they perform the “Rukyah Hilal Ramadan,” the sighting of the new moon to determine the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Traditionally, Ramadan starts when those authorities observe the first signs of the new crescent moon, around a day or two after the new moon, meaning that clear skies in one area and cloudy skies in another could alter the month’s specific starting time. According to the Islamic lunar calendar, the sighting of a new crescent moon marks the start of Ramadan. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is a sacred time of fasting, prayer, and Ramadan, in Islam, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the holy month of fasting. It begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon. Islamic tradition states that it was during Ramadan that the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelations of the Quran. In 2025, Ramadan is expected to begin on February 28th and end on March 30th, depending on the sighting of the moon. Unlike Gregorian months, Ramadan time changes slightly every year. The Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, meaning that months begin with the sighting of the new moon. The word Ramadan derives from the Arabic root R-M-Ḍ (ر-م-ض) "scorching heat", [27] which is the Classical Arabic verb "ramiḍa (رَمِضَ)" meaning "become intensely hot – become burning; become scorching; be blazing; be glowing". Here are the symbols commonly associated with Ramadan. You may see them as Ramadan decorations in households, mosques, Muslim communities, and even malls when they’re holding an event for Ramadan. Crescent moon and star symbols. The crescent moon and star is a significant symbol in Islam. An Unofficial Ramadan Symbol. Besides that, the crescent moon is also an indicator of certain Islamic festivals like Ramadan. Yet, historically there is no connection between the star and crescent with Islam. It has evolved as a cultural and political symbol rather than an expression of faith. However, the Quran has a portion on the moon and The Muslim world is preparing for the start of Ramadan 2025, but the exact date will depend on the sighting of the new crescent moon. Fasting will begin on either Saturday, March 1, or Sunday Ramadan works on a lunar calendar and moon-sighting methodologies often vary between countries, meaning some nations declare the start of the month earlier or later. 10 Importance of Ramadan 1. A Month of Revelation of the Quran. Ramadan holds immense significance as the month in which the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Quran is the ultimate guide for humanity, and its revelation during Ramadan highlights the importance of this month. Quranic Reference: Spiritual Meaning of the Crescent Moon. The spiritual meaning of the crescent moon is rich with symbolism. Seen as a time of transition, the crescent moon represents a period of growth. Spiritually, it’s a time to reflect on where you’ve been and focus on what’s ahead. Therefore, after the article about the meaning of Ramadan, I felt the urge to write this article about the symbols of Ramadan and another perspective about why we celebrate Ramadan. Ramadan is a holy month, a month of blessing, where if we are lucky, we could see many proofs and understand the symbols behind the veils.
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