Ramadan 2021 is expected to begin on the evening of Monday 12 April 2021, subject to sighting of the moon.
Ramadan is holiest of months, a time of spiritual focus and renewal. During Ramadan, Muslims fast, pray, and gather together as a community. Ramadan takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It starts when the crescent moon is sighted.Ramadan ends after 29 or 30 days (depending on the moon) and concludes with Eid Al-Fitr, the “Festival of Breaking the Fast.”
During Ramadan, Muslims celebrate Allah giving the Quran to the prophet Mohammad in 610 AD. During the month, Muslims fast from food and drink (including water) during sunlit hours. They also abstain from sexual activity, anger, and immoral acts. Fasting, which is one of the five pillars of Islam, is seen as an act of worship, to grow closer to Allah, and also as a way to grow in patience, compassion, and self-control.
In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to pray, do good, and spend additional time in reflection during Ramadan. People read or recite the Quran either at home or during nightly prayers at the mosque, so that by the end of the month the whole Quran will have been presented. Some mosques will invite special speakers to encourage and teach during Ramadan.
Charity is another emphasis of Ramadan. Muslims are encouraged to be generous and to use their fasting as an opportunity to think about and pray for those in need. They believe Allah multiplies blessings during Ramadan, so they seek to give more.