8 Most Frequently Asked Questions About The Holy Month Of Ramadan 

All About The Month Of Mercy

For most Muslims, waiting for the month of Ramadan to start has traditionally been, and still is, connected with a great sense of anticipation and mystique.  

During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours, hoping that this spiritual striving will help them draw closer to God. This year, even in the midst of a global epidemic, the vast majority of the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims will fast when the month begins.  

If you’ve got questions like: When is Ramadan this year? Is it permissible for Muslims to drink water while fasting? What happens at the end of Ramadan? Fret not! We’ve got you covered. We’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about Ramadan!

1. When is Ramadan in 2022? 

The Islamic calendar is based on the moon’s phases, also known as the lunar cycle. The month’s duration ranges between 29 and 30 days. After Muslims have finished fasting, the much-anticipated Islamic celebrations of Eid ul Fitr begin. 

This year, Ramadan is expected to begin on 2 April 2022. Please bear in mind that this is a tentative date, as the exact start date of Ramadan is dependent on the sighting of the moon. 

2. Why do the dates of Ramadan change each year? 

Because the Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles rather than the Gregorian calendar, the precise day of Ramadan varies from year to year. The month begins with the sighting of the moon, so if the new moon is seen in one country but not in another, the time difference might vary by as much as a day.  

3. Why do Muslims fast in Ramadan? 

Islam is founded on five fundamental principles, and adhering to these principles is essential to be recognized as an adherent of the Islamic faith. These five principles are also known as the five pillars of Islam, and they are as follows: Shahadah, believing in one God (Allah), Salat (prayer), Sawm (fasting), and Hajj. These are the five pillars that Allah has made obligatory. Fasting is one of the five pillars, which means fasting throughout Ramadan is mandatory for all competent Muslims. 

Ramadan is a time for spiritual meditation and spiritual rejuvenation for Muslims. During Ramadan, Muslims fast with the intention to get closer to God by abstaining from food and drink and by engaging in prayer and contemplation. The fast is also intended to remind Muslims of their reliance on God for nourishment and instill compassion and empathy in them for those who are less fortunate. 

4. Can you at least drink water while fasting? 

Much to their dismay, Muslims are frequently asked this question. The answer is no; observant Muslims are not permitted to consume water during the fasting daytime hours. Instead, anyone fasting can drink water in the early morning during suhoor to minimize thirst later in the day. 

5. How long do Muslims fast each day? 

This Ramadan falls in the spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. As a result, the hours of daylight during which Muslims fast differ. This means that the further north Muslims go, the longer the day is, and the longer they will have to fast. Those living closer to the South Pole will be fasting for a shorter period of time. 

Depending on where you live, these fasting periods might range from 11 to 16 hours each day. Although Ramadan fasting hours vary by region, this period may typically be defined as ‘from dawn to sunset,’ which means that Muslims are not permitted to drink, eat, or indulge in intercourse while the sun is still shining. At sunset, Muslims break their fast with Maghreb prayers. 

6. What does a typical day look like in Ramadan? 

Muslims start their day by rising early to eat the first meal of the day, which must last until sunset. Then, according to their schedules, they will go back to sleep or begin their day after praying their morning (fajr) prayers or participating in Quran recitation. The remainder of the day is spent doing the typical activities one would do outside of Ramadan, except while fasting.  

Before the sun sets, Muslims prepare to pray and break their fast with iftar. Iftar is the meal Muslims eat after breaking their fast. Following the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) tradition, many Muslims break their fast with dates. After Muslims have finished praying and feasting, they engage in acts of worship, usually by making prayers and reciting the Quran. The days of Ramadan are filled with spirituality and practices aimed at improving introspection.  

7. Are there health benefits to fasting? 

Fasting has been demonstrated to provide various health benefits, ranging from the ability to lose weight to improved cognitive function.  

Recently the popularity of intermittent fasting has increased, but fasting has been practiced for millennia for spiritual and non-spiritual purposes, and it is regarded as one of the oldest treatments in medicine.  

8. What happens at the end of Ramadan? 

Ramadan concludes with a three-day feast known as Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr is a celebration for the breaking of the fast. The word ‘Eid’ means celebration, and ‘Fitr’ means to break. This eid begins when the moon is sighted.  

Muslims worldwide will begin their celebrations by thanking God for being able to fast during the holy month and then paying their Zakat ul Fitr. Zakat ul-Fitr is also a compulsory type of alms-giving that every competent Muslim is obligated to perform at the conclusion of the holy month. The goal of Zakat ul-Fitr is to enable those less privileged to enjoy Eid al-Fitr and the eid celebrations. 

After this, most Muslims will attend morning prayers with their families at the local mosque; this is traditionally followed by visiting their loved ones and neighbors, giving children gifts, and gathering feasts to mark the end of the festive period.  

You can pay Zakat ul-Fitr or gift a child in need to make Eid an auspicious occasion for those less fortunate. This way, everyone can participate in the joy of this great month!