When is Ramadan and why is it celebrated? Here's why it keeps ...

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LGBTQ Muslims tackle myths about their religion and sexuality

LGBTQ+ Muslims have a message to share as their community prepares to celebrate Eid al-Fitr.

Rasha Ali, USA TODAY

• Ramadan, the holiest month in Islam, is a time for fasting, prayer, and reflection.
• The month of Ramadan is expected to begin on either Feb. 28 or March 1, 2025, based on the lunar calendar.
• During Ramadan, Muslims fast from food and drink from sunrise to sunset.

Ramadan begins in less than a week.

During Ramadan, billions of people all over the world will fast from sunrise until sunset every day for a month. 

If you don’t know, Ramadan is the holiest month on the Islamic calendar and is a time for fasting, prayer, selflessness, giving to the needy and forgiveness.

Like the Christian and Catholic observances of the Lent season leading up to Easter, Ramadan’s date on the Gregorian calendar changes each year, since it’s based on the lunar calendar.

Here’s why Ramadan starts earlier this year, what it is and a few things to know about the holy month.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic calendar and the most sacred month in Islam, during which most Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset everyday. It is considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Muslims believe it was during this month that Allah gave the Qur’an, Islam's holy book, to the Prophet Muhammad on a night known as "The Night of Power," revealing to him that he was a prophet in charge of carrying Allah’s message. It is said that during Ramadan, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed.

What does Ramadan mean?

The word "Ramadan" comes from the Arabic word Ramid or Ramida, which means scorching heat or drought, according to islamicfinder.org. In the Persian language, it is Ramazan or Ramzan.

When does Ramadan begin, end in 2025? When is Eid-al-Fitr? A look at Islamic sacred month

When is Ramadan 2025?

This year Ramadan is expected to begin on either Friday, Feb. 28 or Saturday, March 1, 2025, and run through Sunday, March 30. It ends in the three-day celebration Eid-al-Fitr, one of the two official holidays in the Islamic faith. The other is Eid al-Adha.

Why is Ramadan starting early this year?

Much like the Christian and Catholic Lent season leading up to Easter Sunday and the Asian Lunar New Year, Ramadan follows the lunar calendar. When Ramadan begins and ends depends on actual sightings of the crescent moon.

Because lunar cycles are shorter than the solar year, Ramadan shifts by about 10 to 11 days on the Gregorian calendar each year. That’s why Ramadan 2025 is earlier than last year, when Ramadan began on the evening of Sunday, March 10.

There are expected to be two Ramadans in 2030, one in January and one in December.

Can I drink water during Ramadan?

No. Fasting during Ramadan includes fasting from water from sunrise to sunset. Those who observe Ramadan do not eat or drink anything, even water, during the daylight hours of the holy month.

What is not allowed during Ramadan?

On top of fasting from food and water, Ramadan is also a month for abstaining from smoking, lying, fighting and sexual activity.

What is Eid al-Fitr and how is it celebrated?

Eid al-Fitr, also known as the Festival of Sweets or Festival of Breaking the Fast, is celebrated to mark the end of the month of fasting. It takes place over the first three days of the next month in the Islamic calendar, Shawwal, and is expected to begin this year around April 9, when the new moon is seen.

Eid al-Fitr is a time of renewal after the month of spiritual cleansing, self-restraint and contemplation and a joyous time to spend with friends and family. After the morning Eid prayers, celebrations can include festivals, social gatherings, dressing in your best clothes, gift-giving, charitable donations and entertainment, according to whyisislam.org.

Does everyone have to fast during Ramadan?

While all Muslims are required to fast during Ramadan, some are exempt:

• People who are physically or mentally ill
• People with existing medical conditions such as diabetes
• People who are traveling
• People who are battling
• Women who are menstruating, pregnant or breastfeeding
• Elderly people who are not capable of safely fasting
• Children who have not reached puberty

If you accidentally or intentionally break your fast during the day, or if you missed fasting days due to illness, travel, pregnancy, breastfeeding or other temporary exemptions, you're expected to make it up sometime before the next Ramadan or, if that's not possible, feed a needy person for every fast day missed.