The Month of Ramadan

[2:183] O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation.

[2:184] Specific days (are designated for fasting); if one is ill or traveling, an equal number of other days may be substituted. Those who can fast, but with great difficulty, may substitute feeding one poor person for each day of breaking the fast. If one volunteers (more righteous works), it is better. But fasting is the best for you, if you only knew.

[2:185] Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. GOD wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify GOD for guiding you, and to express your appreciation.

[2:186] When My servants ask you about Me, I am always near. I answer their prayers when they pray to Me. The people shall respond to Me and believe in Me, in order to be guided.

[2:187] Permitted for you is sexual intercourse with your wives during the nights of fasting. They are the keepers of your secrets, and you are the keepers of their secrets. GOD knew that you used to betray your souls, and He has redeemed you, and has pardoned you. Henceforth, you may have intercourse with them, seeking what GOD has permitted for you. You may eat and drink until the white thread of light becomes distinguishable from the dark thread of night at dawn. Then, you shall fast until sunset. Sexual intercourse is prohibited if you decide to retreat to the masjid (during the last ten days of Ramadan). These are GOD's laws; you shall not transgress them. GOD thus clarifies His revelations for the people, that they may attain salvation.

The Holy Month

Ramadan is a holy month because it is the month during which the Quran was revealed. The advent of Ramadan therefore ushers in a time of reflection, soul-searching, and devotion to God. In many ways, the month of Ramadan serves as a tune-up for the soul.

The benefits of fasting are numerous. Undoubtedly, the greatest of these is that fasting is an act of worship of our Creator. Fasting is also a powerful exercise in self-control and the development of willpower. (For further examination, see: Ramadan: The Scorching of Desires.)

The deliberate intention to abstain from physical satisfactions of the body during the fasting hours allows the human being to attain a measure of spiritual ascendancy and closeness to God. Ramadan is also a time for reflection, reading the Quran, being charitable, purifying one's behaviour, and doing good deeds in general.

Ramadan is an opportunity to gain by giving up, to prosper by going without, and to grow stronger by conquering weakness.

The Lunar Calendar

The month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is a lunar calendar. A lunar month lasts between 29 and 30 days, which is the time it takes for the moon to orbit the earth.

Since a lunar month is, on average, one day shorter than a solar month, a lunar year is approximately eleven days shorter than a solar year. As a result, the month of Ramadan arrives about eleven days earlier each year.

In this way, Ramadan rotates through the seasons and provides equal conditions for people living in different parts of the world. In the northern hemisphere, when Ramadan falls during the summer months, fasting is observed when the days are long and warm; when it falls during the winter months, fasting takes place when the days are short and cool. The opposite applies in the southern hemisphere.

The Practice of Fasting

Each year in the month of Ramadan, the majority of Muslims (Submitters) fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations.

Those who are sick, pregnant, elderly, or travelling may make up an equal number of days later in the year. If they are physically unable to do so, they may feed a needy person for each day missed (2:184).

The Crescent Moon

At one stage in the moon's orbit around the earth, the moon is in conjunction with the sun, with the sun's light striking the side of the moon facing away from the earth. In this position, the moon (the new moon) is invisible to observers on earth, because the illuminated side is not facing us.

As the moon continues its orbit, it begins to form a crescent. This occurs shortly after the new moon, even though the crescent may not be visible for several hours.

The Quran tells us that fasting should begin when we witness the month (2:185), and that the crescent is the timing marker for the months (2:189). Accordingly, fasting should commence at the first dawn following the appearance of the first crescent moon (the waxing crescent).

Today, there is no need to rely solely on the naked eye to witness the beginning of the month. Modern astronomical knowledge allows us to determine precisely when the lunar month begins.

Commencement of Fasting

In 2:185, we note key words that have an important bearing on the commencement of fasting: "those of you who witness the month shall fast it."

The question arises: since fasting is obligatory upon all believers, why did God say "those of you" rather than addressing all believers collectively?

The answer is that believers do not all witness the crescent at the same time. Due to geographical differences, the crescent will be seen by some before others. Consequently, believers should begin fasting at different times, according to when they themselves witness the month.

The policy of some governments to proclaim the start of fasting in their countries according to Mecca's timing - before they themselves witness the crescent - is therefore contrary to the instruction in 2:185. In such cases, they would be starting their fast based on someone else's witnessing, not their own.

The only situation in which synchronising with Mecca's timing may be justified is in locations where the sun does not set for twenty-four hours, or remains above the horizon for excessively long periods, making fasting physically impossible. This occurs in certain northern regions during summer.

Ending of the Fasting

The fasting of Ramadan continues as long as we remain within the month of Ramadan. As soon as the thinnest new crescent appears, the month of Shawwal begins.

We are commanded to fast the month of Ramadan only, and not beyond it. Therefore, fasting should cease before the start of Shawwal.

All complete days that occur before the appearance of the new crescent must be fasted. If the new crescent appears during the fasting hours of a given day, that day should not be fasted, otherwise one would be fasting part of Ramadan and part of Shawwal.

The Quranic instruction is explicitly to fast the month of Ramadan only.

In the past, people relied solely on visual observation to determine the beginning of each month. As a result, they would end their fasting as soon as the new crescent was sighted, even if that occurred during fasting hours.

Today, however, astronomical calculations provide precise timing for each lunar phase. This allows believers to know in advance exactly when the fasting should end.

For example, if the new moon were to appear at midday on a Wednesday, believers would not be required to fast that Wednesday. The reason is that the Quran commands us to "fast the month of Ramadan" (2:185), and nothing more. The appearance of the new moon at midday signals the beginning of the tenth month, Shawwal. Fasting on that day would therefore mean fasting part of Shawwal, which is not commanded in the Quran.