Ramadan is a holy month observed each year by Muslims around the world. If you’ve ever celebrated Ramadan yourself or had a friend or family member who celebrates it, then you probably know that fasting is part of the Ramadan celebration for Muslims. Similar to how Christians give something up during Lent to demonstrate their devotion to their religion , fasting during Ramadan is a very spiritual and meaningful practice for Muslims.
But there are other aspects of the holiday that you might not know about. There are religious events, community parties, and other joyful events like “moonsighting” that are part of Ramadan. People also take time during Ramadan to pray , reflect, and connect with others in their community .
Hina Khan-Mukhtar , a teacher and writer who is on the Board of Directors for the Muslim Community Center East Bay in Northern California, says that Ramadan is a joyous time.
“The Islamic centers and mosques are very full of life and full of light during that time,” Khan-Mukhtar tells Woman's Day. “It’s as if you can imagine Christmas being celebrated every night for a month. The community comes together, people bring food to share, even children love going to the mosque at night. It's a time of community and gathering.”
Here’s what you should know about Ramadan, from when it's happening this year, to its history, to how it’s celebrated today.
What does Ramadan celebrate?
Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, worship, and prayer. It celebrates the revelation of the Qur’an, which is the holy book for people who practice the Islamic faith. Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) received revelations directly from God, which were documented and collected in what eventually became the holy book. A passage in the Qur’an explains, “The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind, and as clear signs that show the right way and distinguish between right and wrong.”
Khan-Mukhtar says that Ramadan is also celebrated as a time for a clean start.
“What I would love for people to know is that Ramadan is a time of hope and renewal and trying to have a fresh start,” she explains. “It’s really a time of rejuvenation, where it’s like, ‘I'm going to go through this month and I'm really going to turn to God, and ask for forgiveness and ask for blessings,’ and then you come out of it with a lot of hope for starting all over again on a good foot.”
When is Ramadan celebrated?
The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, which means that the beginning of each new month starts on the new moon. Ramadan takes place in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, but because of the lunar cycle, the specific dates for Ramadan vary year to year.
This year , Ramadan is expected to begin on Saturday, April 2nd, 2022 and conclude on Monday, May 2nd, 2022.
Why do people fast during Ramadan?
During Ramadan, healthy adult Muslims fast during daylight hours. As part of the fast, they abstain from all food and drink, as well as sexual activity. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam , which are the core beliefs and practices that define the religion.
In a piece about Ramadan written for Vox, Muslim writer Jennifer Williams explained, “The practice of fasting serves several spiritual and social purposes: to remind you of your human frailty and your dependence on God for sustenance, to show you what it feels like to be hungry and thirsty so you feel compassion for (and a duty to help) the poor and needy, and to reduce the distractions in life so you can more clearly focus on your relationship with God.”
Khan-Mukhtar also explained that while there are lots of reasons for Muslims to abstain from food and drink during Ramadan, ultimately the main reason to fast is because they are commanded to do so in the Qur’an.
Do all Muslims fast during Ramadan?
According to an article written by community health sciences educator Sara Elnakib for Eat Right, certain groups are exempt from fasting during Ramadan. These groups include children who have not reached puberty, the elderly, those who are physically or mentally incapable of fasting, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and people who are traveling.
Besides fasting, what are some of the other ways people celebrate Ramadan?
Khan-Mukhtar says that in addition to fasting, Ramadan is also a time for reflection. “It's a time for being really mindful about how we talk to people, what kind of language we use, what we're absorbing, even with our eyes — like what kinds of things we're looking at or watching. We're seeing how it affects our heart.”
Besides fasting and being mindful, there are some other special Ramadan traditions.
Khan-Mukhtar explained that one special tradition is “moonsighting.” Since the timing of Ramadan is determined by when the new moon appears in the ninth lunar month, the spotting of that new moon is significant. “It's often a tradition that people go out to scenic vista points to try and look for the moon, and then when the new moon is sighted, it's super exciting," Khan-Mukhtar says. "When it’s sighted, then you know that it is Ramadan and we get to start fasting tomorrow. It's a good way to connect with the heavens and with nature, it's a good way to get outside.”
In the evening, Muslims will break their fast with a date (the fruit) and water. Traditionally, people also gather at mosques and Islamic centers in the evenings for prayer and worship.
What should I do to be respectful of my Muslim friends and coworkers during Ramadan?
“A good way to support is just having a very positive mindset about Ramadan, being excited for people, and saying things like, ‘How is your Ramadan going?’” Khan-Mukhtar explains.
Keeping a positive mindset can also mean questioning your own assumptions. She says that as a parent, a misunderstanding she encounters often is that people assume the children must dislike fasting — which she says isn’t really the case. “That idea is actually completely the opposite of the truth. Fasting is seen as a right of passage. A lot of kids are very, very eager to start fasting.”
Although it’s not expected that non-Muslims fast during Ramadan, Khan-Mukhtar also says that she’s had experiences where someone decided to fast with her in solidarity. “It's really heartwarming to see someone is wanting to experience what you're experiencing.”
Lastly, if you’re at an event like a work party and you know you have Muslim coworkers who are fasting, it would be a thoughtful gesture to prepare a plate for them and cover it so that they can take it home and eat it when they break their fast that evening.
Has COVID-19 changed anything about how people are celebrating Ramadan?
In 2020, Ramadan took place in April and May, during the early months of the pandemic. “Ramadan [in 2020] was very disorienting for a lot of us,” Khan-Mukhtar says. “It is a very communal thing, to share food with the poor, to share food with our neighbors, to share food with our loved ones, relatives, friends, community members. That's a big part of Ramadan.”
An article published last year in The New York Times noted that 2021 Ramadan celebrations were "closer to normal," with many attending traditional events while taking precautions like wearing a mask and following other COVID-19 safety rules.
The World Health Organization released guidelines for celebrating Ramadan last year. They recommended that people avoid events if they felt unwell or belonged to high-risk groups, use digital communication tools to connect with others, and get vaccinated. It's safe to assume The WHO will also release guidelines for 2022 with updated information. – Woman’s Day
