RAMADAN 2026

History, Legacy & How the Muslim World Observes the Holy Month

Ramadan 2026 has officially begun. Saudi Arabia confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon on the evening of Tuesday, 17th February 2026, meaning the first day of fasting falls on Wednesday, 18th February 2026. The UAE and several other Muslim-majority countries made the same announcement, with fasting beginning across much of the world on the same date.

Ramadan is expected to last 29 or 30 days, placing Eid al-Fitr, the joyous celebration marking the end of the month, around 19th or 20th March 2026, depending on the moon sighting at that time. The spiritually significant night of Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power, is observed on the 27th night of Ramadan, falling approximately on 17^th March 2026.

Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, Ramadan shifts back by roughly 10 to 11 days each year relative to the Gregorian calendar. This means Ramadan rotates through all seasons over a 33-year cycle. In 2026, with Ramadan falling in February and March, Muslims in northern latitudes will experience relatively moderate fasting hours compared to summer years, while those in southern hemisphere countries enter the latter part of summer.

The History of Ramadan

Origins in the Quran

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and holds a place of supreme importance in the faith. Its origins are rooted in the Quran itself: the revelation of Islam’s holy scripture to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is said to have begun during this month, around the year 610 AD, on the night known as Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power or Decree. The Quran describes Ramadan as the month in which guidance was sent down for humanity.

Fasting during Ramadan was made obligatory for Muslims in the second year of the Islamic calendar (approximately 624 AD), following the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, known as the Hijra. The Quran prescribes the fast explicitly, stating that believers who witness the month should fast through it, though exceptions are made for those who are ill, travelling, pregnant, nursing, elderly, or otherwise unable to fast safely.

Pre-Islamic Roots

Some scholars note that fasting practices existed among the peoples of the Arabian Peninsula before Islam, and that the month of Ramadan itself may have held some pre-Islamic significance. However, with the establishment of Islam, Ramadan’s character was entirely reframed as an act of worship, devotion, self-discipline, and communal solidarity, distinct from any earlier practices.

The Legacy Through the Centuries

Over 1,400 years, Ramadan has grown into one of the most universally observed religious practices on Earth. From the early Islamic caliphates to the great empires of the Ottomans, Mughals, and Abbasids, Ramadan shaped the rhythm of public life, trade, culture, and scholarship. Scholars flourished during the holy month, producing some of Islam’s greatest theological, literary, and scientific works. Libraries and schools held special sessions; charity flowed through cities; and nightly prayers drew communities together in mosques lit by oil lamps.

Today, with approximately 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide, Ramadan is observed across six continents. The traditions have evolved in form, from lantern festivals in Egypt to the cannon fire marking iftar in Gulf cities, but the spiritual core remains unchanged: fasting, prayer, reflection, and generosity.

How Muslims Observe Ramadan

The Fast: Sawm

At the heart of Ramadan is the daily fast, known as Sawm. Muslims who are physically able abstain from all food, drink (including water), smoking, and sexual relations from the pre-dawn meal of Suhoor until the breaking of the fast at Iftar, which occurs at sunset. The fast is not merely physical, it is intended to cultivate spiritual awareness, gratitude, empathy for those in poverty, and control over worldly desires.

Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal, is eaten before the Fajr (dawn) prayer, which signals the beginning of the fast. Iftar, the breaking of the fast, traditionally begins by eating dates and drinking water, following the Sunnah (practice) of the Prophet, before a larger meal. The moment of Iftar is one of the most cherished moments of the day, often shared with family, friends, and community.

The Five Daily Prayers and Taraweeh

Prayer intensifies during Ramadan. In addition to the five obligatory daily prayers, Muslims gather each night for Taraweeh, extended voluntary night prayers that are unique to the holy month. Taraweeh prayers are performed after the Isha (night) prayer and can last from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the mosque and tradition. Over the course of the month, the entire Quran is often recited during these prayers, a tradition known as Khatm al-Quran.-

Many Muslims also increase their personal recitation of the Quran during Ramadan, striving to read or listen to the entire text at least once throughout the month.

Charity: Zakat and Sadaqah

Generosity is central to Ramadan. Many Muslims choose to pay their annual Zakat, the obligatory almsgiving that constitutes one of the Five Pillars of Islam, during this month, believing that good deeds carry a -greater reward in Ramadan. In addition to Zakat, voluntary charity (Sadaqah) surges during the holy month. Mosques, charities, and individuals ramp up food distribution, donations to the poor, and support for humanitarian causes around the world.

Before Eid al-Fitr, Muslims are also required to give Zakat al-Fitr, a special charitable donation intended to purify the fast and ensure that even the poorest in the community can celebrate Eid with a meal.

Laylat al-Qadr: The Night of Power

Among all the nights of Ramadan, Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power, holds unparalleled spiritual significance. The Quran describes it as better than a thousand months of worship. It falls in the last ten days of Ramadan, most commonly believed to be the 27th night. Muslims spend this night in intensive prayer, supplication, and Quran recitation, hoping to receive its immense blessings.

Many Muslims enter Itikaf during the last ten days, *a spiritual retreat in which they remain in the mosque, withdrawing from worldly activities to focus entirely on prayer and reflection. This is considered among the highest forms of Ramadan devotion.

Ramadan Across Different Branches of Islam

Sunni Muslims

Sunni Muslims, who make up the majority of the world’s Muslim population, follow the traditional practices described above, fasting from Fajr to Maghrib, performing Taraweeh prayers in congregation, and emphasising the last ten nights for Laylat al-Qadr. Practices vary somewhat by school of jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali) and by cultural tradition, but the core observance is largely uniform.

In Sunni communities around the world, from Indonesia and Malaysia to Nigeria, Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey, Ramadan features communal Iftar gatherings, vibrant night markets, decorated streets, and large congregational prayers. In Egypt, the tradition of hanging colourful Ramadan lanterns (Fanoos) dates back centuries. In the Gulf states, cannon fire marks the beginning of Iftar and the start of the fast. In South and Southeast Asia, elaborate Suhoor and Iftar feasts bring extended families together.

Shia Muslims

Shia Muslims, who constitute a significant portion of Muslims globally, particularly in Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, and Lebanon, observe Ramadan with the same foundational obligations of fasting and prayer. However, some Shia scholars calculate the beginning and end of the fast slightly differently, with a more conservative approach that may extend the fasting period by a few minutes beyond sunset.

Shia Muslims also hold distinct commemorations during Ramadan. The 19th, 21st, and 23rd nights are especially significant, as they mark the days on which Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, the revered first Imam of the Shia, was struck by a sword (19th night) and subsequently died (21st night). These nights are observed with special prayers, mourning ceremonies, and Quranic recitation. For Shia Muslims, Laylat al-Qadr is typically observed on the 23rd night of Ramadan rather than the 27th.

Sufi Traditions

Within both Sunni and Shia Islam, Sufi orders and communities bring their own rich devotional dimension to Ramadan. Sufis, Islamic mystics focused on the inner, spiritual dimensions of faith, view Ramadan as a profoundly transformative time for the purification of the soul. Sufi gatherings during Ramadan often feature devotional music (Qawwali in South Asia, for instance), extended circles of dhikr (the meditative repetition of God’s names), and intensive study with a spiritual master. The emphasis is on using the fast not merely as physical abstinence but as a doorway to a deeper experience of the Divine.

Muslims in the West and Minority Communities

For the estimated 50 million Muslims living in the West, in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and beyond, Ramadan presents both the beauty of deep communal faith and the practical challenges of fasting in societies where the month is not publicly observed. Fasting hours vary dramatically by latitude: Muslims in London in February 2026 will fast for approximately 12 to 13 hours, while those in cities such as Stockholm face similar durations at this time of year.

Western Muslim communities have built vibrant Ramadan traditions of their own, large interfaith Iftar gatherings that welcome non-Muslim neighbours, community fundraising drives, and mosque open days. Organisations and mosques in the UK host events bringing together diverse communities to share in the spirit of the month, and Ramadan has increasingly become recognised and celebrated beyond Muslim communities as a time of reflection, solidarity, and generosity.

The Food Culture of Ramadan

While Ramadan is foremost a month of spiritual discipline, its food traditions are rich, varied, and deeply beloved. Each Muslim-majority country and culture brings its own cuisine to the Iftar table. In Morocco, Harira, a hearty tomato and lentil soup, is the cornerstone of Iftar. In Turkey, a lavish spread might include pie bread, olives, cheese, and a range of hot and cold dishes. In Pakistan and India, Iftar is heralded by samosas, pakoras, chaat, and fresh fruit chaat, followed by a full meal. In the Arab world, dates and laban (yoghurt drink) begin the fast-breaking, followed by soups, grilled meats, and rice dishes.

Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal, tends to favour sustaining, slow-releasing foods: oats, eggs, whole grain bread, dairy, and fruit. The wisdom of centuries of fasting has shaped these culinary choices, with communities intuitively gravitating toward foods that provide energy and hydration through a long day without food or drink.

The Enduring Spirit of Ramadan

“Ramadan is not just a month of fasting — it is a month of transformation, of returning to what matters most.”

More than fourteen centuries after it was first ordained, Ramadan remains one of the most powerful expressions of communal faith and human solidarity in the world. Nearly two billion people, from the highlands of West Africa to the islands of Southeast Asia, from the deserts of Arabia to the high streets of European cities, will share in the same ancient rhythm this February and March, rising before dawn, enduring the day in patience and prayer, and breaking their fast together as the sun sets.

Ramadan 2026, beginning on Wednesday, 18th February, arrives at a time when the world’s Muslim communities face diverse challenges and circumstances. Yet the holy month’s invitation, to slow down, to be grateful, to give generously, and to seek closeness with God, transcends geography, politics, and sect. In mosques and homes, across time zones and cultures, the spirit of Ramadan endures as it always has: luminous, ancient, and alive.

Ramadan Mubarak — Blessed Ramadan — to all who observe it.

–

Key Dates: Ramadan 2026

First day of fasting: Wednesday, 18 February 2026

Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power, 27th night): approximately 17 March 2026

Eid al-Fitr: approximately 19–20 March 2026 (subject to moon sighting)