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
Taharah (Ritual Purity)
The state of ritual purity, which is a prerequisite for prayer.
Salat al-Duha (Forenoon Prayer)
A voluntary prayer performed after sunrise and before noon, with great reward according to the narrations.
A'mal (Acts of Worship)
Specific acts of worship and rituals for particular days and occasions.
Du'a Abu Hamza al-Thumali (Ramadan Night Supplication)
A profound Ramadan supplication taught by Imam Sajjad, recited at sahur time.
Du'a Tawassul (Supplication of Intercession)
A supplication where one asks Allah through the intercession of the Prophet and Ahl al-Bayt.
Ijtihad (Independent Legal Reasoning)
The independent interpretive effort to derive legal rules from the Islamic sources.