RAMADAN 2020: WHEN IS RAMADAN?

RAMADAN 2020: WHEN IS RAMADAN?

 

THE DATES AND MEANING OF RAMADAN
By The Editors

April 17, 2020

The holy month of Ramadan begins in the evening of Thursday, April 23, 2020. Learn about how—and why—Ramadan is observed.

RAMADAN 2020

 

WHEN IS RAMADAN? 

Ramadan 2020 is expected to begin in the evening of Thursday, April 23, 2020, and will end in the evening of Saturday, May 23, 2020. The final evening of Ramadan consists of a celebration called Eid al-Fitr, when the traditional month-long fast is ended with a feast.

The exact beginning and ending times of Ramadan are based on the sighting of the Moon. Specifically, Ramadan is said to begin at the first observance of the new crescent Moon (or on a date pre-determined by astronomical calculation).

The dates listed below are based on the astronomical calculation, so may differ slightly from those seen elsewhere.

Year	First Evening of Ramadan (fasting begins at dawn next day)	Final Evening of Ramadan (Eid al-Fitr)
2020	Thursday, April 23	Saturday, May 23
2021	Monday, April 12	Wednesday, May 12
2022	Saturday, April 2	Sunday, May 1

 

(Dates are according to The Fiqh Council of North America and reflect North American regions.)

WHAT IS RAMADAN?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is considered a holy month that honors the time when Allah, via the angel Gabriel, revealed the first verses of the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, to a caravan trader named Muhammad.

Traditions of Ramadan

Beginning at puberty, all Muslims (with certain exceptions, such as if one is ill, traveling, pregnant, elderly, etc.) take part in the month-long sunrise-to-sunset fast that is the hallmark of Ramadan. Muslims believe that fasting cleanses the body, and the practice reminds them of the suffering of the poor.

Eating and drinking (including water) is prohibited from sunrise to sunset, and the day’s abstinence is offset by a pre-dawn meal called sehri and a nightly meal known as iftar. For iftar, many traditionally break the fast by first eating dates, as the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have done to break his fast. Foods traditionally served at iftar vary; one such dish is the Kurdish Hot-and-Spicy Red-Lentil Soup. Food is often shared with a poor family during Ramadan.

At the end of the 29- or 30-day fast (depending on the length of the lunar cycle) is Eid al-Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast), when there is much feasting and celebration!

 

SHARE YOUR TRADITIONS

If you observe Ramadan, please share your traditions below!