WHAT IS RAMADHAN?

Ramadan is the name of the ninth month of the Hijri (Islamic) calendar. According to the Dictionary of Islam, the word Ramadan is derived from the word ramd, "to burn" (Ramadan is associated with fasting, during which sins are said to be figuratively burned away).

Fasting (Sawm) is one of the core five pillars of Islam. The others are: Shahadah (the testimony of faith), Salat (ritual prayer), Zakat (obligatory religious almsgiving), and the Hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca). During this month Muslims from around the world are required to fast from dawn to dusk. During the fast Muslims may not eat, drink, smoke, or engage in sexual activity. Although fasting is made obligatory to believers of Islam, some groups are excluded: children who are not yet adolescent, the elderly and the chronically ill for whom fasting would be unreasonably strenuous, pregnant women and nursing mothers, the mentally retarded, travelers, and women during periods of menstruation.

Ramadan transpired during a month that is sacred in Islamic history. Muslims believe that it was during this month that the first revelation of the Quran was sent to Prophet Muhammad from Allah (God). The night on which the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet, known as Lailat ul-Qadr (the Night of Power), is one of the last odd numbered nights in Ramadhan. It is the only month of the year mentioned in the Quran. In addition, the Battle of Badr 17th Ramadan 2 AH was the first battle fought by Muslims after their migration to Medina. The battle ended in victory for the outnumbered 313 Muslims against about 1000 Meccans.

Why Does Ramadan Occur at Different Times of the Year?

The dates of Ramadan (the ninth month of the year) change every year because the Islamic calendar is based on the revolutions of the moon. Lunar calendars strictly follow the sighting of a new moon to mark the beginning of each month. Since lunar months are shorter than the solar months used elsewhere, Islamic holidays begin on different days each year. The start of Ramadan comes around 11 days earlier each year according to the western Gregorian calendar, and consequently is not associated with any particular western month. For Muslims living in the United States, the fast may be comparatively short if Ramadan falls during the winter months, or much longer if it occurs during the summer.