Complete Ramadan Guide: Everything You Need to Know

Complete Ramadan Guide

Dates (lunar calendar)

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Being a lunar calendar (354 days), Ramadan advances about 10-11 days each year. The exact date is confirmed by the new moon sighting.

Fasting Rules

Obligatory for every adult, healthy, resident Muslim. Fasting begins at dawn (Fajr) and ends at sunset (Maghrib). During this time, one must abstain from:

• Food and drink
• Marital relations
• Smoking and chewing gum
• Nutritional injections

Exemptions

Sick, travelers, menstruating women, pregnant women, nursing mothers, elderly. Missed days must be made up later or compensated with fidya (feeding a needy person).

Recommended Practices

1. Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) - it is blessed
2. Iftar (breaking fast at sunset) - with dates and water
3. Tarawih (night prayer) - 8 or 20 rak'ah
4. Quran reading - complete at least once
5. Sadaqah (charity) - increase donations
6. Itikaf (retreat) - last 10 days in the mosque

Blessed Suhoor

The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Take suhoor, for in it there is blessing" (Bukhari 1923). It is recommended to delay it until just before Fajr.

Iftar

The Prophet broke his fast with fresh dates; if none, dry dates; if none, water. The iftar dua: "Allahumma laka sumtu wa bika amantu wa alayka tawakkaltu wa ala rizqika aftartu."

Laylat al-Qadr

Seek it on the odd nights of the last 10 days (21, 23, 25, 27, 29). The recommended supplication: "Allahumma innaka afuwwun tuhibbul afwa fa'fu anni."