Ramadan has now started for Muslims around the world and will culminate with the first day of Eid, falling on the 10th or 11th of April 2024. Exact dates are subject to sightings of the moon. Ramadan is a commemoration of Muhammad's first revelation, and the annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Ramadan is a holy month dedicated to prayer, and fasting. Giving to charity and neighbours is encouraged, with abstention from earthly distractions like food and water, during daylight hours. A meal is taken before dawn known as “suhoor” and after dusk known as “iftar” but nothing is consumed in between. Those not well enough to fast can be exempted.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The Islamic calendar is lunar, which means each month begins with a new moon. As lunar months are shorter than solar, the Islamic calendar does not correspond with the Gregorian calendar, which means Ramadan occurs around 10 days earlier every year. It varies from country to country by about a day, depending on when the moon is sighted.
Eid al-Fitr is the “festival of the breaking of the fast” and marks the end of Ramadan every year. This year it will be around 10/11 April.
For more information and resources, please visit: https://mcb.org.uk/resources/ramadan-health-guide/
