As we approach the holy month of Ramadan in 2026, Emaan Relief have created this guide to Ramadan. We hope this will help you understand the true meanings and spiritual importance of this unique month. Whether it’s the practical aspects of the obligatory fast, enhancing your awareness of Allah (SWT) or deepening your connection with the wider Muslim community, Ramadan is dedicated to all these things. This guide will walk you through all you need to know about this special time – a time when Muslims around the world come together to share in their faith and reflect on the blessings sent to them by Allah.
In the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is the ninth month – it is a lunar calendar so the months move each year in relation to the standard Gregorian calendar. It is a special month because it is the time in which the holy book of Islam, the Quran, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Fasting during Ramadan is the Fourth Pillar of Islam – the obligatory acts that define the faith. Muslims are commanded by Allah to fast from dawn till sunset every day for the month, refraining from food and drink.
The purpose of fasting in Ramadan is more than just abstaining from food and drink, it is about practicing the acts of patience, gratitude, and self-discipline. By experiencing hunger and thirst, Muslims are able to reflect on the blessings send down by Allah, and also develop a sense of compassion and generosity to those who are less fortunate.
The length of the month of Ramadan varies each year due to the Islamic calendar being based around the sighting of the moon. Ramadan 2026 is expected to begin on the evening of 17th February 2026, with the expected end date being the 18th March 2026. Again, this will all depend on the sighting of the moon, meaning the month will last for either 29 or 30 days.
Muslims begin their fast before dawn, with a meal pre-dawn known as Suhoor. The day is then spent in fasting and prayer. The fast is broken at the time of sunset, with the evening meal known as Iftar. The month of Ramadan comes to an end with the celebration of Eid al Fitr, a festival around gratitude, community, and togetherness.
One of the very common questions many people ask is “Can you drink water during Ramadan?” The answer is no. Muslims do not eat or drink during their fasting hours. Muslims are however encouraged to keep hydrated and drink plenty of water between the hours of sunset to dawn, and eating healthy meals for Suhoor and Iftar.
Fasting times entirely depend on where you live in the world, as the hours are based on the sunrise and sunset timings in your region. The sound of the call to prayer at sunset signals the time to break the fast. Upon breaking your fast at sunset, Muslims are allowed to eat up until dawn again. Muslims tend to break their fast with water and dates, following the sunnah and practice of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him).
Emaan Relief, along with many other Islamic organisations share Ramadan prayer and meal timings to help families prepare for each fasting day.
The rules of Ramadan and how fasting should be observed are clear. Muslims who are fit and able are required to fast. Islam does however provide flexibility to those who are ill, elderly, pregnant, or traveling, making them exempt from fasting, or allowing them to make up their fasts at a later time.
Ramadan teaches Muslims to strive in avoiding negative behaviours such as gossiping, getting anger, or being dishonest. Ramadan is more than just physically fasting, it is also about purifying your own thoughts and actions, adopting acts of kindness and patience. Giving charity during the month of Ramadan is also highly encouraged.
Prayer and supplication are a key part of Ramadan. Muslims turn to Allah in prayer, asking for His Mercy, and guidance. A beautiful dua for Ramadan that many recite especially in the last ten days of the month is:
“Allahumma Inaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni”
(O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness, so forgive me)
Ramadan is a time to cleanse the soul and strengthen your bond with your Creator. This dua reflects that in a beautiful way. Each day in the month of Ramadan is the perfect opportunity to make dua for yourself, your loved ones, and all those who are in need around the world.
The final days of Ramadan are the most important days of the month. During the last 10 nights of Ramadan, Muslims increase their worship and acts of good deeds. Believers seek the holy night of Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power), a time that has been described by Allah in the Quran as being ‘better than a thousand months.’
It has been narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be Upon Him) has said to search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan [Bukhari], signifying that Laylatul Qadr sits within the last odd ten nights of the month (the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 29th).
Zakat is the Third Pillar of Islam, a compulsory act of annual giving upon every Muslim believer. It is a form of charity that purifies the wealth of the one who gives, and helps the one who receives. Many choose to give their Zakat during the month of Ramadan as it is believed that rewards are multiplied during the blessed month.
Emaan Relief offer a Zakat calculator to assist in accurately working out how much Zakat you need to pay based on your savings and assets. You can also donate your Zakat payment to Emaan Relief and ensure that your contribution will reach those eligible families in need.
Though the aspect of fasting and praying in the month of Ramadan unites Muslims all around the world, Ramadan traditions vary from culture to culture. Some countries decorate their streets, whilst others carry out community iftars, bringing neighbours together to break their fast with shared meals. Many Muslims gather for the nightly prayers in the mosque, known as Taraweeh, where the Quran is recited and completed by the end of the month.
The best way to make the most out of the blessed month of Ramadan is to plan ahead and set a goal, scheduling your prayers and Quran recitations. It’s useful to prepare healthy meals in advance to nourish you through the month and remind yourself of what your purpose is in fasting and praying. It’s important to note that Ramadan is not about being perfect, but about making progress, working to make yourself a better believer. It’s a time to reconnect with your faith, spread kindness, and forgive the ones who may have hurt you.
Ramadan 2026 is just around the corner, with the month of reflection not so far away. You must remember that each part of this sacred month offers a chance for every Muslim to grow closer to Allah (SWT).
As you prepare for the month of Ramadan, don’t forget you can donate your Zakat or Sadaqah to Emaan Relief to guarantee your act of giving reaches the people most in need.
