With the sighting of the new moon, almost two billion Muslims worldwide have begun to observe the Holy month of Ramadan. The holy month of fasting spans a period of 29 to 30 days and celebrates the first time when the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad, according to Islam. Ramadan is the ninth month and the most sacred of the Islamic lunar calendar, that is observed worldwide.
The Islamic Calendar follows the phases of the moon, commonly known as the lunar cycle. As a result, the Holy month of Ramadan falls approximately 10 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar. The Ramadan start date for 2025 was expected to fall around 28 February following the sighting of the moon over Mecca or respective countries. This year, the month-long fasting festival started on March 1, but the fasting started on Sunday, March 2
Lasting for 29 or 30 days, Ramadan 2025 will end around 30 March, with the celebratory days of Eid al-Fitr estimated to start around 30 March, again with a possible difference of a couple of days.A joyous celebration that begins with a special prayer known as the Salat al-Eid. This day is characterised by feasting, wearing new clothes, giving gifts, and spending time with family and friends. It’s also a time when muslims continue their charitable practices by giving Zakat al-Fitr, ensuring that even the less fortunate can join in the festivities.
This holy month is among one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Muslims will fast (Sawm) and abstain from food and drink (physical component) from dawn to sunset, and offer more prayers (Salāh) and to learn self-discipline, patience, humility, and enhance community cohesion (spiritual aspect). Muslims will also donate to charity (Zakāh), and carry out charitable acts, pursue to improve one’s character, and spend time with family and friends.
For Muslim communities, Ramadan is not only a month of fasting but also a sacred time to delve deeper into and appreciate cherished human values, including upholding the rights of fellow human beings, serving communities, and strengthening bonds with each other. A month of mercy, forgiveness, and blessings. Muslims also aim to grow spiritually and become closer to Allah and their loved ones. They do this by abstaining from pleasures like smoking, drinking and sexual intercourse between sunrise and sunset each day.
One of the most important aspects of the Ramadan fast is called “niyyah” which literally means “intention.” Muslims must not simply (or accidentally) abstain from food; they must achieve the requirement of niyyah. A Muslim’s intention to fast must come from the heart and from a place of worship to Allah. So if someone fasts for political or dietary reasons, they will not achieve niyyah. According to scripture, “Whoever does not make niyyah before dawn, would not have fasted”.
In much of the Muslim world, restaurants are closed during the daylight hours of Ramadan. Families wake up early, before the sun rises, and eat a meal called “sohour”. After the sun sets, the fast is broken with a meal called “iftar”. Iftar often begins with eating dates and drinking sweet drinks to give fasting Muslims a quick energy boost. It can include any type of food, but the dessert almost always includes konafa or qatayef. Konafa is a cake made of wheat, sugar, honey, raisins, and nuts, and Qatayef is a similar but smaller cake, that’s folded to encase the nuts and raisins. In between the two meals, the night-time iftar and the pre-dawn sohour, Muslims can eat freely.
As we begin this Holy Month, Palestinian, Lebanese, Sudanese and Syrian people are beginning to rebuild their lives despite their homes, hospitals, schools and places of worship being destroyed as Winter sets in. Fearless women in Afghanistan continue to fight for their freedom. Over a million Rohingya remain in Cox’s Bazaar, some for decades. Civilians continue to come under attack and face famine in South Sudan and Yemen.
Meanwhile, Uyghur Muslims in China endure their religious freedoms being repressed, mass surveillance, arbitrary detention, and the erosion of their cultural and religious identity.
This Ramadan, lets remember the importance of charity, and in giving back to affected communities as well as keeping those who have lost their lives in the Gaza genocide in mind.
Lets stand united, stand alongside Muslim communities around the world and continue to challenge injustice in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Iran, Lebanon, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sudan, Yemen and many other places.
The other night I was speaking to a palestinian friend in gaza and despite Israel halting all aid from going inside of Gaza on the first days of Ramadan, they were gathering for Iftar in the rubble of their destroyed neighborhood, I have never encountered such faithful, resilient, and indomitable people as Palestinians before.
Under the weight of a prolonged Israeli blockade and widespread devastation left by Israeli military attacks, Palestinians in Gaza are clinging to the traditions of Ramadan with unwavering determination.. Remember that nearly eivery single mosque has been destroyed in the north of Gaza. yet they keep their faith despite everything. Thouigh undoubtedly. anxious about where their meals to break their fasts will come from.
Remember the women and children fasting in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Their resilience shines a light of hope in the face of adversity.
This Ramadan, lets also all be reminded of our collective responsibility to firmly stand against Islamophobia, racism, and hate in all their forms.
To all who are observing this holy month, May this sacred time bring peace to your hearts, light to your souls, and strength to your faith. Ramadān Mubārak, May it be a blessed one. Filled with love, light and countless blessings. Wa Salam (with peace), Free Palestine 🌙✨
