Ramadan (month)

Ramadan (Arabic: رَمَضَان, Ramaḍān) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and the month in which the Quran is believed to have been revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Ramadan
A crescent moon can be seen over palm trees at sunset in Manama, Bahrain, marking the beginning of the Muslim month of Ramadan.
Native name	رَمَضَان (Arabic)
Calendar	Islamic calendar
Month number	9
Number of days	29-30 (depends on actual observation of the moon's crescent)
Significant days	Conquest of Mecca Laylat al-Qadr
← Sha'ban Shawwal →

Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The month is spent by Muslims fasting during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset. According to Islam, the Quran was sent down to the lowest heaven during this month, thus being prepared for gradual revelation by Jibra'il to Muhammad. Therefore, Muhammad told his followers that the gates of Heaven would be open for the entire month and the gates of Hell (Jahannam) would be closed.^[1] The first three days of the next month, Shawwal, are spent in celebration and are observed as the "Festival of Breaking Fast" or Eid al-Fitr.

Timing

The Islamic calendar is a lunar one, where each month begins when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. The Islamic year consists of 12 lunar cycles, and consequently it is 10 to 11 days shorter than the solar year, and as it contains no intercalation,^[a] Ramadan migrates throughout the seasons. The Islamic day starts after sunset. The estimated start and end dates for Ramadan, based on the Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia, are:^[2]

Ramadan dates between 2022 and 2026

AH	First day (CE/AD)	Last day (CE/AD)
1443	2 April 2022	1 May 2022
1444	23 March 2023	20 April 2023
1445	11 March 2024	09 April 2024
1446	01 March 2025	29 March 2025
1447	18 February 2026	19 March 2026

An iftar meal

Many Muslims insist on the local physical sighting of the moon to mark the beginning of Ramadan, but others use the calculated time of the new moon or the Saudi Arabian declaration to determine the start of the month. Since the new moon is not in the same state at the same time globally, the beginning and ending dates of Ramadan depend on what lunar sightings are received in each respective location. As a result, Ramadan dates vary in different countries, but usually only by a day. This is due to the cycles of the moon; the moon may not meet the criteria to qualify as a waxing crescent, which delineates the change in months, at the time of sundown in one location while later meeting it in another location.^[3] Astronomical projections that approximate the start of Ramadan are available.^[4]

Events

Martyrdom of Imam Ali, Yousef Abdinejad

Ramadan is observed by Muslims during the entire lunar month by the same name. The month of religious observances consists of fasting and extra prayers. Some important historical events during this month are generally believed to include:

• 2 Ramadan, the Torah was bestowed on Moses according to Islam.^{[citation needed]}
• 10 Ramadan, death of Khadija bint Khuwaylid, the wife of Muhammad.^[5]
• 12 Ramadan, the Gospel was bestowed on Jesus according to Islam.^{[citation needed]}
• 15 Ramadan, birth of Hasan ibn Ali.^[6]
• 17 Ramadan, birth of Ibn ʿArabi.^[7]
• 17 Ramadan, death of Aisha bint Abu Bakr – a wife of Muhammad.^[8]
• 17 Ramadan, the Battle of Badr was won by the Muslims.^[9]
• 18 Ramadan, the Psalms (Zabur) were bestowed on David (Dawood).^{[citation needed]}
• 19 Ramadan, Imam Ali struck on the head during prayer by Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam with a poisoned sword.^[9]
• 20 Ramadan, the Conquest of Mecca by Muhammad.^[10]
• 21 Ramadan, Caliph Ali martyred.^[9]

Laylat al-Qadr is observed during one of the last ten days of the month (typically the odd nights). Muslims believe that this night which is also known as "The Night of Power" is better than a thousand months. This is often interpreted to mean that the reward for praying throughout this night is equal to the reward for praying for a thousand months (just over 83 years, i.e., a lifetime). Many Muslims spend the entire night in prayer.

Hadith

Prohibition to pronounce the word Ramadan by itself

According to numerous hadiths Ramadan is one of the names of God in Islam, and as such it is prohibited to say only "Ramadan" in reference to the calendar month and that it is necessary to say the "month of Ramadan".

Sunni

The Messenger of God (sa) said: Do not say "Ramadan", for verily Ramadan is a name from the names of Allah, rather say "month of Ramadan".^[11]

He (the Prophet Muhammad) hated them saying "Ramadan", and he said: "Because it is a name from the names of Allah. Rather we say just as Allah said [in the Quran] – the "month of Ramadan".^[12]

The Prophet (sa) said: Do not say "Ramadan has come" or "Ramadan has finished", for verily Ramadan is a name from the names of Allah, the Lofty.^[13]

The Messenger of God (sa) said: Do not just say "Ramadan", for verily Ramadan is the name of Allah, rather say "month of Ramadan".^[14]

Ibn Abu Hurairah reported: Do not say "Ramadan", for verily Ramadan is a name from the names of Allah, rather say "month of Ramadan".^[15]

The Messenger of God (sa) said: Not a single one of you should be saying "I fasted Ramadan", nor "I establish [the Salah] in Ramadan", nor "I produced in Ramadan such-and-such", for verily Ramadan is a name from the names of Allah, Prestigious and Majestic is His greatness. Rather say "month of Ramadan" just as your Lord, Prestigious and Majestic, has said in His book (i.e. the Quran).^[16]

Aisha asked: "O Messenger of God, what is the meaning of 'Ramadan'?" So the Messenger of God (sa) said: "O Humayra', do no say "Ramadan" for verily Ramadan is a name from the names of Allah, rather say "month of Ramadan". The meaning of the word 'Ramadan"' is that [Allah] burns in this month the sins of His worshippers, meaning he forgives them."^[17]

Shia

Muhammad al-Baqir (as) said: Do not say "this Ramadan", nor "Ramadan has gone", nor "Ramadan has come", for verily Ramadan is a name from the names of Allah, Prestigious and Majestic. He does not come nor leave, for the coming and leaving is for a thing that is not everlasting. Rather say "month of Ramadan", for the word 'month' is a genitive for the noun, and the noun is the name of Allah, Prestigious and Majestic.^{[18][19][20][21]}

Ali (as) said: Do not say "Ramadan", rather say "month of Ramadan" for verily you don't know what Ramadan is.^{[22][23][24][25]}

Ali (as) said: Do not say "Ramadan" for verily you don't know what Ramadan is. So the one who says that (just 'Ramadan'), then let him give alms in charity and he should fast as an atonement for his blasphemy. Rather say as Allah, Prestigious and Majestic, has said: "month of Ramadan".^{[26][27][28][29]}

Zaydi

Ali (as) said: Do not say "Ramadan" for verily you don't know what Ramadan is. So the one who says that (just 'Ramadan'), then let him give alms in charity and he should fast as an atonement for his blasphemy. Rather say as Allah, Prestigious and Majestic, has said: "month of Ramadan".^[30]

See also

• Islam portal

• Islamic holy books
• 19 Ramadan
• 21 Ramadan
• 23 Ramadan

Notes

1. A tropical year is almost the same length as a year in the Western Gregorian Calendar, the difference is imperceptible in a human lifespan.

References

1. Hadith al-Bukhari 3:123 Archived 2018-09-08 at the Wayback Machine Hadith Collection
2. "The Umm al-Qura Calendar of Saudi Arabia". webspace.science.uu.nl. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
3. "What is the Islamic calendar?". FAQ - For Muslims. Ramadan Awareness Campaign. Archived from the original on 2012-09-09. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
4. "Ramadan and Eidian". Committee For Crescent Observation. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
5. Sayyid Ali Ashgar Razwy (10 November 2013). "The Birth of Muhammad and the Early Years of his Life". Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
6. Madelung, Wilferd (1997). The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-64696-3.
7. Chittick, William (Summer 2018). "Ibn Arabi". In Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford: Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University. Retrieved 19 July 2018. Ibn 'Arabî referred to himself with fuller versions of his name, such as Abû 'Abdallâh Muhammad ibn 'Alî ibn al-'Arabî al-Tâ'î al-Hâtimî (the last three names indicating his noble Arab lineage)
8. Haylamaz, Resit (1 March 2013). Aisha: The Wife, The Companion, The Scholar. Tughra Books. pp. 192–193. ISBN 9781597846554. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
9. W. Montgomery Watt (1956), Muhammad at Medina Oxford: Clarendon Press, p. 12. Watt notes that the date for the battle is also recorded as the 19th or the 21st of Ramadan (15 or 17 March 624).
10. F.R. Shaikh, Chronology of Prophetic Events, Ta-Ha Publishers Ltd., London, 2001 pp 3, 72, 134-6. Shaikh places the departure on Wednesday, 29 November. This is apparently calculated using the tabular Islamic calendar and then substituting Ramadan for Sha'ban in an (ineffective) attempt to allow for intercalation.
11. Al-Bayhaqi, Abu Bakr. Sunnan al-Kubra (in Arabic). p. Vol. 4, Book 11, Ch. 6, Nu. 7904. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّٰهِ صَلَّىٰ اللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لَا تَقُولُوا۟ «رَمَضَانُ» فَإِنَّ رَمَضَانَ اسْمٌ مِنْ أَسْمَاءِ اللَّٰهِ وَلَٰكِنْ قُولُوا۟ «شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ»
12. Al-Tabari, Muhammad ibn Jarir. Tafsir al-Tabari (in Arabic). p. Vol. 3, Pg. 187. أَنَّهُ كَرِهَ أَنْ يُقَالُ «رَمَضَانَ»، وَيَقُولُ: لَعَلَّهُ اسْمٌ مِنْ أَسْمَاءِ اللَّٰهِ، لَٰكِنَّ نَقُولُ كَمَا قَالَ اللَّٰهُ: «شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ»
13. Al-Razi, Fakhr al-Din. Tafsir al-Kabir (in Arabic). p. Vol. 5, Pg. 251. عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّىٰ اللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: لَا تَقُولُوا۟ «جَاءَ رَمَضَانُ» وَ«ذَهَبَ رَمَضَانُ» وَلَٰكِنْ قُولُوا۟ «جَاءَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ» وَ«ذَهَبَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ» فَإِنَّ رَمَضَانَ اسْمٌ مِنْ أَسْمَاءِ اللَّٰهِ تَعَالَىٰ.
14. Ibn al-Jawzi, Abdul Rahman. Al-Mawdu'at (in Arabic). p. Vol. 2, Pg. 187. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّٰهِ صَلَّىٰ اللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لَا تَقُولُوا۟ «رَمَضَانُ» فَإِنَّ رَمَضَانَ اسْمُ اللَّٰهِ، وَلَٰكِنْ قُولُوا۟ «شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ»
15. Ibn Abu Hatim, Abdul Rahman. Tafsir Ibn Abu Hatim (in Arabic). p. Vol. 1, Pg. 310, Nu. 1648. لَا تَقُولُوا۟ «رَمَضَانُ»، فَإِنَّ رَمَضَانَ اسْمٌ مِنْ أَسْمَاءِ اللَّٰهِ، وَلَٰكِنْ قُولُوا۟ «شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ»
16. Al-Dimashqi, Tamam. Fawa'id al-Tamam (in Arabic). p. Vol. 1, Pg. 104, Nu. 241. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّٰهِ صَلَّىٰ اللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لَا يَقُولَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ «صُمْتُ رَمَضَانَ»، وَ«قُمْتُ رَمَضَانَ»، وَلَا «صَنَعْتُ فِي رَمَضَانَ كَذَا وَكَذَا»، فَإِنَّ رَمَضَانَ اسْمٌ مِنْ أَسْمَاءِ اللَّٰهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْعِظَامِ، وَلَٰكِنْ قُولُوا۟ «شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ» كَمَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ
17. Ibn al-Saqri, Abu Tahir. Mashyakhah (in Arabic). p. Vol. 1, Pg. 126, Nu. 52. عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّٰهِ مَا مَعْنَىٰ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّٰهِ صَلَّىٰ اللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: يَا حُمَيْرَاءُ لَا تَقُولِي «رَمَضَانُ» فَإِنَّهُ اسْمٌ مِنْ أَسْمَاءِ اللَّٰهِ وَلَٰكِنْ قُولِي «شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ» يَعْنِي رَمَضَانَ أَرْمَضَ فِيهِ ذُنُوبَ عِبَادِهِ فَغَفَرَهَا
18. Al-Kulayni, Muhammad ibn Ya'qub. Al-Kafi (in Arabic). p. Book 14 (the Book of Fasting), Ch. 4, Hadith 2, Nu. 6281. قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ): لَا تَقُولُوا۟ «هَٰذَا رَمَضَانُ» وَلَا «ذَهَبَ رَمَضَانُ» وَلَا «جَاءَ رَمَضَانُ» فَإِنَّ رَمَضَانَ اسْمٌ مِنْ أَسْمَاءِ اللَّٰهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَا يَجِيءُ وَلَا يَذْهَبُ وَإِنَّمَا يَجِيءُ وَيَذْهَبُ الزَّائِلُ وَلَٰكِنْ قُولُوا۟ «شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ» فَإِنَّ الشَّهْرَ مُضَافٌ إِلَىٰ الْاسْمِ وَالاسْمُ اسْمُ اللَّٰهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ
19. Ibn Babawayh, al-Saduq. Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih (in Arabic). p. Vol. 2, Pg. 182, Nu. 2050.
20. Al-Hurr Al-Amili, Muhammad. Wasa'il al-Shia (in Arabic). p. Vol. 10, Ch. 19, Hadith 2, Nu. 13505.
21. Al-Majlisi, Muhammad-Baqir. Bihar al-Anwar (in Arabic). p. Vol. 93, Ch. 48, Hadith 1.
22. Al-Kulayni, Muhammad ibn Ya'qub. Al-Kafi (in Arabic). p. Book 14 (the Book of Fasting), Ch. 4, Hadith 1, Nu. 6280. قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ): لَا تَقُولُوا۟ «رَمَضَانُ» وَلَٰكِنْ قُولُوا۟ «شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ» فَإِنَّكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ مَا رَمَضَانُ
23. Ibn Babawayh, al-Saduq. Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih (in Arabic). p. Vol. 2, Pg. 182, Nu. 2051.
24. Al-Hurr Al-Amili, Muhammad. Wasa'il al-Shia (in Arabic). p. Vol. 10, Ch. 19, Hadith 1, Nu. 13504.
25. Al-Majlisi, Muhammad-Baqir. Bihar al-Anwar (in Arabic). p. Vol. 93, Ch. 48, Hadith 2.
26. Ibn Tawus, Sayyid. Al-Iqbal Bil-Amal (in Arabic). p. Vol. 1, Pg. 29. عَلِيٍّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ) قَالَ: لَا تَقُولُوا۟ «رَمَضَانُ» فَإِنَّكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ مَا رَمَضَانُ فَمَنْ قَالَهُ فَلْيَتَصَدَّقْ وَلْيَصُمْ كَفَّارَهً لِقَوْلِهِ وَلَٰكِنْ قُولُوا۟ كَمَا قَالَ اللَّٰهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ «شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ»
27. Al-Hurr Al-Amili, Muhammad. Wasa'il al-Shia (in Arabic). p. Vol. 10, Ch. 19, Hadith 3, Nu. 13506.
28. Al-Majlisi, Muhammad-Baqir. Bihar al-Anwar (in Arabic). p. Vol. 93, Ch. 48, Hadith 3.
29. Al-Nouri Al-Tabarsi, Husayn. Mustadrak al-Wasa'il (in Arabic). p. Vol. 7, Ch. 12, Hadith 1, Nu. 8609.
30. Al-Shajari, Yahya bin Hussein. Al-Amali Al-Khamisiyah (in Arabic). p. Vol. 1, Pg. 380, Nu. 1355. أَنَّ عَلِيًّا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ كَانَ يَقُولُ: لَا تَقُولُوا۟ «رَمَضَانُ» فَإِنَّكُمْ لَا تَدْرُونَ مَا رَمَضَانُ فَمَنْ قَالَهُ فَلْيَتَصَدَّقْ وَلْيَصُمْ كَفَّارَةً لِقَوْلِهِ، وَلَٰكِنْ قُولُوا۟ كَمَا قَالَ اللَّٰهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: «شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ»

External links

• Islamic-Western Calendar Converter (Based on the Arithmetical or Tabular Calendar)
• The Umm al-Qura Calendar of Saudi Arabia
• Predicting the First Visibility of the Lunar Crescent (with lunar crescent visibility maps to 2024)