What is Ramadan? How Muslims Observe Their Holiest Month
For nearly two billion Muslims throughout the world, including the United States, Ramadan—which takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar—represents a period of self-restraint and self-sacrifice, introspection and prayer. Muslims believe that the revelation of the Qu’ran, their sacred scripture, began in the month of Ramadan.
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @HallmarkStores.
The origins of the Ramadan holy month
According to Islamic tradition, in 610 AD the Prophet Mohammed spent the month of Ramadan contemplating his faith in a cave named Hira, located near his birthplace in the city of Mecca.
As the prophet meditated, Allah (God) began speaking through the Angel Gabriel, revealing verses that would become the Qu’ran.
That night became known as Lailat al Qadr—the Night of Power—and is considered by Muslims to be the most important event in history. Different denominations pinpoint the night on different dates: Sunnis (85–90% of Muslims) on the 27th of Ramadan and Shia (10–15% of Muslims) on the 23rd.
How Ramadan is observed
Ramadan observations are included in the Five Pillars of Islam. Those basic acts are shahada (professing one’s faith), salat (prayer), zakat (giving to charity), sawm (fasting) and hajj (making a pilgrimage to Mecca).
Muslims observe the holiday by fasting from food and drink between dawn and dusk, as well as avoiding immoral behavior and thoughts. As fasting focuses the mind, celebrants are encouraged to think of others. Many of the faithful read or listen to recitations of the Qu’ran during Ramadan.
The observations and rituals take planning. Before dawn, people eat a meal called suhur to prepare them for fasting, followed by prayer.
After sunset and the call to evening prayer, Muslims often begin the iftar meal by eating three dates—said to be Mohammed’s way of breaking fasts.
“A few weeks prior to Ramadan starting, I start looking at meal preparation because I don’t like to do a lot of cooking during Ramadan. So I need to plan out what I’ll be eating prior to sunrise and then what I’ll be eating to break my fast. I also arrange my day so I complete my five-times-a-day prayers on time and read the Qu’ran on a daily basis. I also give charity every day during Ramadan. I plan ahead and send money to organizations via mail and online. During Ramadan, opportunities arise and charity can be given right then.” —Mahnaz Shabbir, diversity speaker and consultant, Shabbir Advisors
During Ramadan, the spiritual rewards of good behavior are believed to be multiplied—so abstaining from food and drink isn’t the only discipline Muslims adhere to. They focus their energies on prayer.
“Muslims fast in the month of Ramadan by not eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset. It does not mean that Muslims abstain from food only. It also means that we are at our best behavior, which really means no lying, cussing, cheating or showing temper. I think we are all human beings and with the passage of time we drift from our good behavior. The month of Ramadan brings us back to the right track.” —Seema Ahmed, proud Naano (grandmother)
Ramadan traditions bring Muslims together—wherever they are—to focus on their most strongly held beliefs.
“My memories are when the family gathers in the wee hours before sunrise to start our fasts. When my children were younger, they weren’t required to fast due to their age. Yet they would hear the early morning activity in the kitchen and want to join us. They would ‘start’ and by 10 am they were eating.” —Mahnaz Shabbir
“When I was little, I wanted to fast with my family. I recall chugging water ’til our stomachs hurt so we can last without water and food all day until about 7:30 PM. We never could make it ’til the end back then and ended up breaking fast around lunch time. I recall the sense of accomplishment I felt the first time I was able to fast all day. I was 9 years old. I also remember when I was 13 years old, I fasted the entire month of Ramadan for the first time. Each of my three kids have had the same request ever since they were little, and they have already told me that they want to fast with me this year. So the Lodhi family tradition continues.” —Sam Lodhi, Hallmark Manager
In the United States, where somewhere between 3.5 to 7 million Muslims live (with the population expected to grow), families might enjoy iftar in their own homes or with large groups at mosques or community centers. Since 1996, the White House has hosted iftar for community leaders and international visitors.
Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Breaking the Fast, when the sighting of the crescent moon begins the next month of the lunar calendar. During this religious holiday, no fasting is allowed—Eid al-Fitr is a time for giving thanks to Allah, expressing joy for and gathering with friends and family.
Find out more about Eid al-Fitr (pronounced eed uhl-FEE-truh).
You may also like
See more-
Friends 50+ fun things to do with friends
It’s hard to describe in only a few words how amazing I feel when I’m with my friends, but I’ll try: Inner child comf...
-
Christmas 6 festive Christmas punch recipes for a very merry crowd
Make everyone merry with these five holiday drinks
-
Drinks Fruit punch that’s perfect for a party
Who among us doesn't remember being a kid and chugging a giant glass of cold fruit punch on a warm summer day? Whe...
-
Drinks Christmas Eve eggnog punch
There are several variations to this eggnog punch, allowing you to customize it to your taste buds. We started with e...
-
Drinks Warm and comforting wassail punch
Nothing sets a warm holiday mood like wassail—a fancy mulled cider. The tang and tannins of the fresh fruit, the warm...
-
Drinks Sparkling pomegranate punch perfect for any party
We've created a spritzer-like cocktail to serve a crowd with Red Zinger tea, pomegranate juice and chilled Prosecco. ...
-
Thanksgiving 4 free printable Thanksgiving activities for the kids table
The kids’ table is the place to be at Thanksgiving: all the fun and none of the responsibility. And because sometimes...
-
4th of July Free printable 4th of July decorations
Most of our ideas for summer entertaining include the words "casual" and "easy." But on patriotic holidays, we gotta ...
-
Drinks Warm up a holiday crowd with this hot rum punch
Every guest will feel special when you serve them a steaming mug of delicious hot rum punch, topped with a grilled pi...
-
Drinks Mix up this mulled wine holiday punch for a festive gathering
Pomegranate seeds add a holly-berry touch to this mulled wine and citrus punch. Any spicy red wine can serve as the f...
-
Gifting The Office gifts and decor make WFH way more fun
From 9-5, our favorite show is The (Home) Office. 💼 📄 Add some fun to WFH with products and decor from The Office, av...
-
Baby Watch them grow: Our favorite monthly baby photo ideas
Of course you’re going to capture a gazillion photos during your baby’s first year. But there’s something about snap...
-
Summer Vegetable stamping: How to make simple, modern prints with produce
There are so many reasons to try fruit and vegetable stamping: It's surprisingly creative. It's easy. It uses stuff y...
-
Baby 40+ baby photoshoot ideas, tips and tricks from Hallmark photographers
You have the cutest baby in the world. There’s no contest. It’s not even a question. But what you might not have are ...
-
Christmas Step right up and see the Seaside Carnival Keepsake Ornament
Get ready for all the sights and sounds of Santa’s Seaside Carnival! Santa and Mrs. Claus are ready to greet visitors...
-
Friends Friendship messages: What to write in a friendship card
Whether it’s your friend’s birthday or just any old day, sending a card is a great way to bring a smile and nurture ...
-
Card Ideas 17 ideas for saving your favorite cards and letters
If you’ve got a shoe box full of old cards and letters, you’re definitely not alone. People have been stashing away m...
-
Birthday Free birthday coloring pages to add more fun to the celebration
The best birthdays are the ones filled with lots of little treats and fun activities, from sunup to sundown. If you’r...
-
Family Tips and ideas for preserving and displaying family recipes
Family recipes are a special kind of priceless heirloom—the kind that transport us back to our favorite times with ou...
-
Mother's Day Meaningful, personal Mother's Day gift ideas for every mom you know
It can be tough to come up with gift ideas for Mom. Most of us want to give her something meaningful: a gift that sho...