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The holy month of Ramadan is the most sacred time for Muslims worldwide. Being such an important time in the Islamic calendar, there is a lot of information about Ramadan that Muslims must know in order to fulfil their religious duties and give thanks to Allah (SWT) for all He does.
To help simplify things, we’ve put together a list of the key Ramadan facts and information you need to know.
Ramadan is based on the Fourth Pillar of Islam, known as Sawm, so when reading about Ramadan, it makes sense to start with facts about Sawm.
When translated, Sawm means ‘fasting.’
The Pillars of Islam are the core values that all Muslims must adhere to and form the basis of the religion as a whole. This means every Muslim must honour Sawm.
Muslims honour the Fourth Pillar of Islam (Sawm) by fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.
The most crucial fact about Ramadan is that it’s the most sacred month in the Islamic calendar that is undertaken to fulfil the Fourth Pillar of Islam. Holding such significance, there is much to know about Ramadan.
The definition of Ramadan is all-encompassing. It aims to cleanse the mind, body and soul through prayer and reciting the Qur’an. Fasting and abstention from sinful and/or impure acts are undertaken alongside holy activities in order to strengthen the bond with Allah (SWT) and remind you to be grateful for all Allah (SWT) has blessed you with. In addition to giving thanks to Allah (SWT), Ramadan is a time to become more compassionate and mindful of our brothers and sisters who are less fortunate. The intention behind Ramadan is to become a better Muslim.
Ramadan is the holiest of all the months because it is said that this is the time the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). The exact date is unknown, but it is widely believed that it was on the 27th night, known as Laylat al-Qadr (The Night of Power).
The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, which is different from the Gregorian calendar. The sighting of the new moon marks the start of each month in the Islamic calendar. This changes year on year, meaning the dates of Ramadan can change by up to 10 days every year, but it always falls on the ninth month.
Some Muslims choose to commence Ramadan based on the sighting of the moon above their local area. Others go by lunar projections rather than the actual sighting because visibility may be obscured by clouds. Meanwhile, some wait for the moon to be seen by Islamic Leaders in Makkah.
The most notable feature of Islam is fasting, but it’s not quite as straightforward as abstaining from eating and drinking.
The intention behind fasting is to honour the Fourth Pillar of Islam, cleanse the body, and show solidarity with those who are less fortunate and do not have enough food.
During Ramadan, Muslims are prohibited from eating or drinking during daylight hours.
Not everyone will be able to fast due to health reasons, and as such, certain groups are exempt, including:
There are very limited valid reasons for breaking the fast. Acceptable reasons include the following:
If you break the fast and the reason is not listed above, it is not a valid reason, and you must pay Kaffarah. If the reason is valid, you must pay Fidya.
Fidya is payable when you are unable to fast or have to break the fast for an acceptable reason. If you are required to pay Fidya, you may make back the missed 30 days of fasting throughout the year, or you can pay the Fidya rate. The rate of Fidya may change year on year, but it is usually below £5.
The rate of Fidya is enough to pay for one person to eat on each day of Ramadan. For example, if the rate of Fidya is set at £5 and you are required to pay Fidya from missed/broken fasts, you will be required to pay £150 so that one person can eat throughout the month of Ramadan or so that 30 people can enjoy one meal during Ramadan.
Breaking the fast intentionally for an invalid reason means you must pay Kaffarah, and Kaffarah is based on Fidya, but it is doubled. If a person misses a day of fasting unnecessarily, he or she should either fast for 60 consecutive days or feed 60 poor people. If you choose to pay Kaffarah rather than fast, you must pay double the amount of Fidya. This means if 30 days of Fidya is set at £150, your Kaffarah amount is £300 per day.
Now we’ve gone through the basic facts of Ramadan, here are some more quick facts.
For further teachings on Ramadan, consult your local Imam.
To donate to Orphans in Need this Ramadan, please head to our donations page, where you can make your Fitrana, Fidya or Kaffarah payments, as well as a general donation to support the work of our team around the world.
