Ramadan

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is Islam’s official period of fasting and spiritual growth and one of the religion’s “five pillars,” or obligatory acts for followers. Most Muslims believe the archangel Gabriel first revealed the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century during the final ten nights of Ramadan. The Qur’an is a divine book of guidance for those living Muslim lives.

The other pillars of Islam are: the declaration of faith, or creed, which means bearing open witness to Allah; five daily prayers, or Salat; almsgiving and charitable acts, or Zakat; and Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, at least once in a lifetime. The revelations about Ramadan are known as Sawm, which, translated in English, means “to fast.”

Overview

Ramadan lasts twenty or thirty days, depending on the visibility of the new crescent moon. This period may be a physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally demanding time of year for Muslims. Its strictest requirement is fasting. Those who are unable to fast but are financially capable are expected to provide meals to those in need. However, Muslims also are bound to abstain from swearing, lying, fighting and arguing, and engaging in sexual activity. Abstinence from impure activities and thoughts is believed to allow Muslims to cleanse their minds and souls.

Those who are physically challenged or are traveling are not bound by Ramadan’s obligations, and neither are people who are elderly, frail, or ill, or women who are pregnant, breast-feeding, or menstruating. Able-bodied Muslims, however, must abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from dawn to sunset each day of the month, and many offer extra prayers, especially at night, and attempt to recite the entire Qur’an. Typically, five daily prayers are core parts of Islam, and the night prayer is a special prayer called the Tarawih.

In pre-Islamic Arabia, an extremely hot summer month was called Ramadan. The word “Ramadan” is derived from the Arabic word Ramdh, which means “intensely hot” or “burning.” The month of Ramadan is thus named for three reasons: Those who fast become hot due to thirst; worship and devotion burn away sin; and Ramadan devotion produces the necessary warmth of love in humans for their Creator and fellow beings.

In the Islamic calendar, the timing of the observance varies each year. The last ten days of Ramadan are considered the holiest, and it is believed that the seven steps to heaven become open then. The most important day, considered the holiest night of the year, is Laylat al-Qadr, or the “Night of Power.” Muslims typically stay awake on this night, and it is believed that prayers are heard, sins are forgiven, and dreams are fulfilled. The end of Ramadan marks the beginning of Eid al-Fitr, the “festival of the breaking of the fast.” On this day, one of two major Muslim holidays, many Muslims attend a religious service, visit relatives and friends, and exchange gifts.

A typical day during Ramadan begins with a light meal approximately twenty minutes to an hour before sunrise, followed by early morning prayer with family or other Muslims in the household, then ceased consumption of food, drink, and even medicine. All leisure pursuits and interests that do not promote quiet contemplation also must stop. The light pre-dawn meal is known as Suhoor, and the sunset meal is known as Iftar. Muslims are typically advised not to turn down an Iftar invitation, as the communal meal is a sacred Ramadan tradition.

The day’s activities may include non-strenuous work, but the primary focus is performing the five prayers, engaging in acts of charity, recognizing family responsibilities, and, above all, reading the Qur’an. The day’s end involves prayers and a sunset meal, typically eaten together with other Muslims. Certain activities and sights, such as people prostrate on prayer rugs in public, now have a deep association with Ramadan in Muslim societies.

When the fast is invalidated, either Qada (making up missed days) or Kaffarah (a penalty) is required. Qada is required when, during Ramadan, Muslims bound to fast intentionally eat or drink, deliberately induce vomiting, begin menstruation or post-childbirth bleeding, ejaculate for reasons other than sexual intercourse, or intend to break the fast before sunset even if they change their mind (because intention is a prerequisite of the validity of fasting). The fast also is invalidated with qada required when Muslims eat, drink, or have sexual intercourse on the mistaken assumption that it is not dawn yet or that it is already sunset. Kaffarah is required when Muslims engage in sexual intercourse between dawn and dusk. The penalty is to fast an additional period of sixty continuous days. If unable to do that, Muslims who violated the fast must feed sixty poor people one average meal each.

Before the days of the Prophet Muhammad, slavery was a common Arab practice. When Islam eliminated slavery, freeing an enslaved person as an act of charity or as a penalty for a sin came into practice.

Further Insights

The observance of Ramadan mainly seeks to explain the connection between soul and body. The Qur’an prescribes fasting to make believers more aware of Allah, whom they worship as creator of the universe. Abstinence from basic things ordinarily taken for granted is thought to compel believers to reflect on life’s purpose and deepen their relationship with the creator. Many Muslims derive a feeling of poverty from fasting that aids in developing empathy.

A 2013 Pew Research Center survey of more than 38,000 Muslims revealed widespread worldwide observance of Ramadan. In the thirty-nine countries and territories surveyed, a median of 93 percent said they fast during the holy month. In terms of adherence to the Five Pillars, fasting was second only to belief in God and the Prophet Muhammad. By comparison, a median of 77 percent of Muslims in those thirty-nine countries said they give zakat (an annual donation of part of one’s wealth to the needy), and a global average of 63 percent of Muslims surveyed said they performed five salat (prayers) a day. An average of just 9 percent of Muslims said they have already completed the hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca), though this once-in-a-lifetime obligation applies only to those who are financially and physically capable.

Ten years after that large-scale survey, observance of the holy period is reported to have grown even further. In 2023, TGM Research determined through the world’s largest Ramadan consumer survey, taken in fifteen countries on four continents, that 98 percent of the Muslim population would celebrate Ramadan that year; 97 percent expected to partake in festivities; 96 percent called Ramadan the most awaited season of the year (which they like primarily because of the opportunity to spend time with family); and 94 percent said they would fast.

Overall, Ramadan activities hold the same significance level for Muslims of all ages. Charitable giving and worship remain the main priorities among Muslim communities worldwide (70 percent) and, after the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020, most Muslims welcomed Ramadan as a much-needed opportunity to share in the holy month’s warmth, generosity, and cherished traditions. With only 27 percent of Muslims feeling the threat of COVID-19 in 2023, Ramadan was seen as a return to the familiar and a celebration of the community’s resilience. However, in times of conflict, such as the Israel–Hamas War that broke out in October 2023, observing Ramadan can pose challenges due to food shortages and unsafe conditions that make gathering with friends and family difficult. During such times, many Muslims must alter their Ramadan celebrations based on available resources.

Aside from spiritual reflection, worship, and acts of charity—and despite the emphasis on fasting—food and drink are actually prominent parts of Ramadan, heavily showcased during the iftar and suhoor meals. That places Ramadan among the busiest periods for consumer-goods companies. Among the most popular brands during Ramadan 2023 were Coca-Cola, followed by Marjan (syrup), Vimto (soft drinks), Almarai (dairy and bakery products), and Nestlé. These brands are said to create a sense of unity and togetherness among families and communities during Ramadan.

Viewpoints

The Muslim population in the United States has seen a continual upswing. The Pew Research Center projected in 2018 that Islam could be the country’s second-largest religion by 2040. As such, workplace and academic accommodations have become topics of prominence, especially during Ramadan.

In the workplace, human resources personnel, managers, and stakeholders are advised to remain aware of the personal and religious sensitivities of Muslim employees during Ramadan, to understand their experience, and to help accommodate them. Accommodating policies may lead to mutual trust and result in higher staff retention, better morale, more effective teams, and greater productivity.

Among the best practices advised for employers are to anticipate Ramadan’s approach and whom it affects, without fear of asking Muslim employees if they will be fasting; to ensure all staff who work with Muslim colleagues are aware of what fasting entails and how it could impact someone; and to consider offering those fasting the chance to change shifts or working hours, or to work lunch hours and breaks in return for an earlier quitting time. Offering front-line workers a break at sunset to fast, pray, and eat also is advisable, as is not scheduling evening meetings. Employers also are advised to prepare for Muslim employees to take one to five holiday days at the end of Ramadan.

In line with the growth of Islam, Muslim students across the country also have pushed schools to treat the holy month of Ramadan the way they treat other holidays, and schools are increasingly moving to recognize Ramadan, whether by providing quiet rooms for prayer, allowing exemptions from gym class or other physically challenging activity, or allowing test-taking in the early part of the day when students, especially those observing Ramadan, may be more alert. Many school districts now recognize Eid al-Fitr as a holiday. They are backed up by research that shows schools that embrace diverse student backgrounds better position their students to succeed academically.

With increases in bullying and harassment seen at many schools, cultural experts have said Ramadan presents a good opportunity for teachers to debunk common myths and misconceptions about their Muslim students. According to multiple studies, Muslim students are twice as likely to experience bullying as children of other faiths.

Though the guidelines surrounding Ramadan may seem strict, Muslims have been reminded that some traditions are not set in stone. They have been advised that Islam is a religion of common sense, and common sense can and should factor into many decisions to stray from tradition. Many Muslims, it has been said, are reluctant to admit that Ramadan may cause stress or depression. Fasting can cause stress on the body that is best relieved with rest during the day before the evening activities. Depression during Ramadan may be caused by separation from family, health concerns, financial burdens, or loneliness and isolation.

Fasting can be a debilitating requirement of Ramadan, with potentially significant health and economic impacts, and mounting evidence proves that fasting negatively affects health, which can decrease productivity and economic output. Research by the Dutch academic Reyn van Ewijk revealed several long-term health problems resulting from Ramadan fasting, including negative health effects on the children of pregnant women. Pre-birth exposure to fasting has been associated with poorer general health and increases a person’s chances of developing serious health problems. Occupational health researchers have noted health consequences such as severe dehydration, headaches, dizziness, and nausea.

Emergency visits for medical treatment increase dramatically during Ramadan. The African Health Sciences Makerere Medical School reported that its emergency service may care for about 500 daily patients during Ramadan, as compared with 250 to 600 outside of the sacred time. The most frequent complaints are ulcers due to fasting, stress, and variation of circadian rhythm, which can worsen untreated or insufficiently treated ulcers, and higher levels of problems associated with chronic pathologies such as diabetes mellitus, asthma, and cardiac and vascular problems, including severe hypertension. These conditions or worsened conditions can typically be explained by diet changes. Sweets and fatty foods are consumed more frequently during Ramadan, and people are more prone to health problems because they do not take their medications during the day but at daybreak or sunset, which could worsen their disease. Muslims with eating disorders have also spoken about the challenges of Ramadan fasting, which can exacerbate conditions such as anorexia and bulimia.

Conversely, the number of emergencies due to aggressions is reduced because crime typically decreases during Ramadan. Accidents related to alcohol intake also are significantly reduced because alcohol stores are required, by Islamic law, to close during Ramadan. Heavy smokers also may stop smoking during Ramadan, which can be a first step toward quitting.

A July 2013 article in Arab News suggested that productivity declines by 35 to 50 percent as a result of reduced working hours and lifestyle changes during Ramadan. Economists have contended that Ramadan fasting has negatively affected output growth in Muslim countries in critical ways. A survey by growth strategy firm Dinar Standard estimated that in the Organisation of Islamic Conference countries, the working day is reduced on average by two hours during Ramadan, which translates to forty-two lost working hours during the month. There has been no indication that these hours are made up during the rest of the year. If 1,700 hours are worked during the year, such a loss represents a 2.5 percent reduction in output per year. Productivity declines not only due to the physical toll of fasting but also to disruption to the workflow.

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