Ramadan 2023: When is it and what does it celebrate?
The blessed month of Ramadan, a time of reflection, contemplation, and celebration for Muslims all over the world, is almost here.
The annual observance of this special month is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and commemorates Muhammad’s first revelation.
The Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles, unlike our Gregorian calendar, so the exact dates of Ramadan change every year.
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Ramadan, including what the special occasion is all about and when it will be celebrated.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is held during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is a time for spiritual reflection, acts of charity, and spending time with loved ones.
Ramadan remembers the month the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. The night the Quran was revealed is known as Lailut ul-Qadr (‘The Night of Power’).
Throughout the Ramadan period, adult Muslims of able body and mind start their day fasting, with a pre-dawn meal known as ‘suhur’.
The fasting involves abstaining from eating, drinking, and sexual intimacy until sunset.
Many observers also choose to stay away from smoking, taking medicine, and chewing gum during this time.
Those who are acutely or chronically ill, diabetic, menstruating, breastfeeding, or pregnant are not expected to fast, as well as children who haven’t hit puberty yet and the elderly.
During this time, studying the Quran, donating money to the needy, and committing more time to prayers are encouraged.
The fasting period concludes after sunset with a meal called “iftar”, which sees families and friends come together around the dinner table.
When is Ramadan 2023?
As the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, Ramadan rotates by approximately 10 days each year.
This year, Ramadan begins on the evening of Wednesday, March 22, and concludes on Friday, April 21.
When is Eid al Fitr 2023?
Eid al-Fitr is a festival that marks the end of Ramadan.
This year, it is set to begin on the evening of Friday, April 21, and will last until the evening of Saturday, April 22.
What is Eid al-Adha and when does it start?
Eid al-Adha, also known as the Greater Eid, is regarded as the second-most important festival in the Muslim calendar.
Observed by Muslims around the world, it marks the culmination of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and commemorates Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his son in order to obey God, but was stopped by God who provided him with an animal to sacrifice instead.
To commemorate this, Muslims feast on an animal but will divide it into three parts. They give one part to the poor and those in need, one part to friends, and keep one part to have with their family.
This year, Eid al-Adha will be held between Wednesday, June 28 and Sunday, July 2.
Articles-Latest
- Solomon's Law
- Chief prosecutor defends Vatican's legal system after recent criticism of pope's absolute power
- Sacred Mysteries: The connection between E Nesbit and St Sebastian
- Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)
- In Pictures: Crowds gather to celebrate Beltain with burning of 40ft wicker man
- How Christian Slaveholders Used the Bible to Justify Slavery
- Vatican excommunicates a former ambassador to the US and declares him guilty of schism
- Scientology
- T.D. Jakes breaks silence on Diddy allegations with emotional sermon-" Oh my " is this temptation?
- Six killed while praying after gunman storms Afghanistan mosque
- St George’s Day 2024: Date, meaning and who England’s patron saint was
- 18 Everyday Things Amish Women Aren’t Allowed to Do
- Russian priest who led Alexei Navalny’s memorial service mysteriously suspended by Moscow church
- United Methodists open first top-level conference since breakup over LGBTQ inclusion
- Former archbishop George Carey backs assisted dying campaign after 'conversion'
- Using Vibrational Aromatherapy In Treatment - 2
- Taliban step up security ahead of supreme leader’s Kandahar mosque visit on Eid
- Using Vibrational Aromatherapy In Treatment
- The BI-Gendered God-She-male Gods & The Roots of Christianity
- Geometry and Myth-She-Male Gods & the Roots of Christianity
Articles-Most Read
- Home
- Let There Be Light
- Plants that feel and Speak
- The Singing Forest
- The Singing Forest-2
- Introduction
- Meditation
- Using Essential Oils for Spiritual Connection
- Heaven Scent
- Plants that Feel and Speak-2
- Purification
- Making the Spiritual Connection
- Anointing
- The Sanctity of Plants
- Essential Oils: The unseen Energies
- The Aroma Of Worship - Introduction
- The Aroma Of Worship-Foreward
- Methods Of Use
- Spiritual Blending
- Handling and Storage