Ramadan 2023 Date, Timings, History, Fasting Rules, Celebrations

Ramadan 2023 date and timings in India: This year, the holy month of Ramadan will begin in the evening of Wednesday, March 22, 2023 and will end in the evening of Friday, April 21, 2023. Ramadan, also spelled Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan or Ramathan, is the holy month as per the Islamic calendar. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.
Muslims from all over the world regardless of nationality, ethnicity, race or color participate in fasting for the entire month of ramadan. They are not permitted to eat or drink as soon as the sun rises until dusk throughout the month. They are also supposed to stay away from impurities and other pleasures during the entire month of Ramadan fasting.
Importance of Ramadan Fasting

Ramadan is one of the most important festival in Islamic religion and fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of its most important practice followed by Muslims all over the world. Ramadan fast is one of the five pillars of Islam. The Ramadan fasting is one of the major religious belief and practices in Islam. It is one of Islam’s five pillars which is made up Salat (prayer), Shahada (an affirmation that there is no deity besides God and his prophet Muhammed), Zakat (charity) and Hajj (taking at least a once in a lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca).
It is the widely believed that the first verses of the holy book of Islam, Quran, was revealed by Allah during the month of Ramadan. Throughout Ramadan, people fasting are expected to abstain from food, drinks and other pleasures from dawn to dusk. Participants are supposed to focus their mind on prayer, purity, spirituality and charity. Fasting reminds you of the importance of self-control and the suffering of the poor. Ramadan fasting rules helps to cleanse your body and mind.
The concept of Ramadan is born from the Arabic word ‘sawm’, which means to refrain not only from food and drink, but also from all that is evil and all that is likely to delimit, corrupt and bind the human self.

These people are exempted from Ramadan fast
Some of the people exempted from fasting during Ramadan are pregnant women, women who are breastfeeding and people who are physically and mentally ill. Individuals who are travelling, engaged in hard labour and women on their period can also skip some days and make up for the days missed later. It is not compulsory for children to fast until they reach puberty but some choose to observe it in preparation for their adulthood. Individuals are encouraged to discontinue their Ramadan fast if it threatens their overall health.

Ramadan Fasting Rules: Do's and Don'ts

Ramadan fasting begins at dawn and continues till sunset for the entire month of Ramadan. The pre-dawn meal before the fast is called the suhur, while the meal at sunset that breaks the fast is called iftar. Muslims believe that Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, self-improvement, and heightened devotion and worship.

In addition to abstaining from eating and drinking during dawn to sunset, Muslims abstain from sexual relations and sinful speech and behaviour during Ramadan fasting month. The purpose of Ramadan fasting is to cleanse the soul by freeing it from harmful impurities. Muslims also believe fasting helps instill compassion for the food-insecure poor.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslim families break the fast at dawn with the iftar, traditionally opening the meal by eating dates to commemorate Muhammad's practice of breaking the fast with three dates. They then adjourn for Maghrib, the fourth of the five required daily prayers, after which the main meal is served.

Eid al-Fitr - end of Ramadan fasting

Eid al-Fitr is a large Islamic festival celebrated to the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan and it begins the moment the new moon is sighted. Muslims celebrate this day with family and friends, prepare large meals and donate to charity. This religious Eid is the only day in the month of Shawwal during which Muslims are not permitted to fast.

Traditionally, Eid al-Fitr begins at sunset on the night of the first sighting of the crescent moon. Eid al-Fitr special celebratory dishes in India include Lachcha or sivayyan, a dish of fine, toasted sweet vermicelli noodles with milk and dried fruit.

Ramadan Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Ramadan?
   Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and it is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection.
2. What is the purpose of Ramadan?
   The purpose of Ramadan is to deepen one's spiritual connection with God, to practice self-discipline, and to demonstrate solidarity with the poor and needy.
3. When does Ramadan 2023 start and end?
   This year, Ramadan 2023 will begin on March 22, 2023, and ends on April 21, 2023. The start of Ramadan is based on the sighting of the new moon, and it varies each year. The end of Ramadan is marked by the sighting of the next new moon, which signals the beginning of the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
4. What are the fasting rules during Ramadan?
   Fasting during Ramadan requires abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn until sunset. This includes refraining from smoking and sexual relations. Children, the elderly, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and people with certain health conditions are exempt from fasting.
5. What is Suhoor and Iftar?
   Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal that Muslims eat before starting their fast, and Iftar is the meal that Muslims eat to break their fast at sunset.
6. What is Zakat al-Fitr?
   Zakat al-Fitr is a mandatory charitable donation that Muslims give at the end of Ramadan to help those in need. It is typically given in the form of food, and it is intended to ensure that everyone has enough to eat during the Eid al-Fitr celebration.
7. What is Eid al-Fitr?
   Eid al-Fitr is the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. It is a time of celebration and joy, during which Muslims gather with family and friends, exchange gifts, and give to charity.