Ramadan Begins

On Monday, February 8, 2027, Muslims around the world begin Ramadan, the holiest month of the Islamic year. For a full month, healthy adult Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, gather for night prayers, and share meals with family and community.

FEB8

Monday, February 8Every year on February 8

days to go

Roots: Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and marks the month in which the first verses of the Quran were revealed.
Hashtag: #RamadanBegins

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3 ways to celebrate

WITH FRIENDS

Offer a Ramadan Greeting

Wish Muslim friends, neighbors, and coworkers Ramadan Kareem or Ramadan Mubarak, a kind greeting for a blessed and generous Ramadan.

WITH COMMUNITY

Share an Iftar

If you are invited to iftar, the meal that breaks the fast after sunset, accept warmly. Sharing the evening meal is at the heart of the month.

WITH NEIGHBORS

Offer Dates at Sunset

Dates customarily break the fast each day. Offering dates to a fasting friend at sunset is a small and thoughtful gesture.

Plan ahead

Ramadan Begins is observed on February 8 every year. Here is where it lands for the next ten years, handy for planners, marketers and party people.

2026Sun, Feb 8this year

2027Mon, Feb 8

2028Tue, Feb 8

2029Thu, Feb 8

2030Fri, Feb 8

2031Sat, Feb 8

2032Sun, Feb 8

2033Tue, Feb 8

2034Wed, Feb 8

2035Thu, Feb 8

2036Fri, Feb 8

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Fast facts

The dawn to sunset fast, called sawm, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and fasting the month means abstaining from all food and drink, including water.

Each day begins with suhoor, a pre-dawn meal, and ends after sunset with iftar, the meal that breaks the fast, traditionally starting with three dates.

The story

Ramadan is the holiest month of the year for Muslims, marking the month in which the first verses of the Quran were revealed. Observance of the month is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and the first revelation commemorated by the month is dated to 610 CE. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic, or Hijri, lunar calendar, and in 2027 it begins with 1 Ramadan 1448.

Read the full story

Throughout the month, healthy adult Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining from all food and drink, including water. Each day begins with suhoor, a pre-dawn meal, and ends after sunset with iftar, the meal that breaks the fast. Three dates customarily break the fast each day, before the iftar meal is shared.

Ramadan nights are filled with prayer and community. Many Muslims attend special Taraweeh prayers at the mosque, where the Quran is recited in portions across the month until it is completed by Eid al-Fitr. In the last ten nights falls Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power, which commemorates the night of the first revelation and is described in the Quran as better than a thousand months.

The month begins at sunset on Sunday, February 7, 2027, when the first Taraweeh prayers are held, and the first day of fasting is Monday, February 8. That date is an expected date: Islamic months begin with the sighting of the crescent moon, so the start can shift by a day depending on local moon sighting. Greet friends and neighbors with Ramadan Kareem or Ramadan Mubarak, both wishing someone a blessed and generous Ramadan.