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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. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File) Why do Muslims fast in Ramadan? Fasting, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is a requirement during the month of Ramadan for those who are able to do it safely. They include shahadah, the The holy month of Ramadan has began for Muslims across the world. Here are 5 reasons why Muslims fast during this spiritual time. The daily fast in Ramadan includes abstaining from all food and drink – not even a sip of water is allowed – from dawn to sunset before breaking the fast in a meal known as “iftar” in Once Ramadan is over, it's Eid - the festival of breaking the fast. Celebrations for Eid last for three days, during which people gather to celebrate the end of the holy month. The daily fast in Ramadan includes abstaining from all food and drink – not even a sip of water is allowed – from dawn to sunset before breaking the fast in a meal known as “iftar” in Arabic. Fasting teaches Muslims to be pious, helping them restrain from worldly pleasures and focus on spiritual growth. The purpose of Ramadan is to establish a fixed training period where believers can overcome vices, learn virtues, and earn Allah's (SWT) blessings. We Muslims fast the month of Ramadan because Allah has commanded us to do so. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (pious).” [al-Baqarah 2:183] Fasting during the month of Ramadan constitutes one of these five obligations. The four other pillars are Shahada (the profession of faith), Salat (praying), Zakat (charity) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). What does fasting involve? During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking. Ramadan fasting is one of the most observed of all the pillars of Islam, with 70-80% of Muslims practising it. It is obligatory for all Muslims, men and women, from the age of puberty. If someone is unable to fast, they can make up the fast later or, if they cannot fast at all, feed a poor person as a way to make up for it. Even if children are not required to fast, they can still participate in Ramadan by doing small fasts for a few hours, helping prepare food, or learning more about Islam. The Basic Rules of Fasting The end of the Ramadan fast is celebrated as Eid al-Fitr, the “Feast of Fast-Breaking,” which is one of the two major religious holidays of the Muslim calendar (the other, Eid al-Adha, marks the end of the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca that all Muslims are expected to perform at least once in their lives if they are financially and Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is a special time for Muslims around the world. It is a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection, bringing people closer to their faith. When Does Ramadan 2025 Start and End? Ramadan 2025 is expected to begin on the evening of Friday, February 28, 2025, and end on the evening of Saturday, March 29, 2025. The exact dates depend on the sighting of the moon. Why is Ramadan Important in Islam? Fasting in Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The reason fasting six days of Shawwal after Ramadan is like fasting for a year is because Allah multiplies good deeds by ten. The Prophet clarified in another narration, “Fasting the month of Ramadan is like ten months of fasting and fasting six days of Shawwal is like two months of fasting. Thus, they are like fasting for a year.” If a person misses a fast due to a valid reason, such as illness or travel, they are required to make it up later by fasting an equal number of days after Ramadan. It is important to fulfill missed fasts as soon as possible after Ramadan concludes. If someone is in a position where they are threatened and asked to break the fast, they are allowed to do so. Women during mensuration: Women undergoing their periodic mensuration cycles are also exempted from fasting during Ramadan. They can continue fasting after the cycle is completed and after performing ablution (ghusl). Muslims observe Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, as a sacred time when they fast from sunrise until sunset. The timing of Ramadan changes earlier each year than it does in the Gregorian calendar because the Islamic calendar is roughly 10–12 days shorter. The Islamic calendar consists of 12 lunar months, with each month lasting between 29 and 30 days, depending on the moon's sighting. The beginning of Ramadan is marked by the sighting of the new Ramadan — a month traditionally associated with dawn-to-sunset fasting — will begin on the evenings of Friday, Feb. 28, Saturday, March 1, 2025, or even (possibly) Sunday, March 2, 2025. Why
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