Fasting (Ramadan)

1. Introduction to Fasting / Ramadan
2. Full details of Fasting from Quran: Chapter 2:183-187
3. Religious Duties: A Gift From God: Fasting (Ramadan)
4. Spiritual Benefits of Fasting: Ramadan, A Gift of Rememberance
5. Misunderstandings and Violations in Ramadan
6. The Night of Destiny
7. Medical Benefits of Ramadan
8. Ramadan and Thanksgiving

Ramadan This Year:

July 31 - August 29 (most parts of North America, South America, North-West Europe)
August 1 - August 29 (Asia, Australia, Middle-East, South-East Europe, Turkey, etc.)

God willing this year Ramadan begins on July 31, 2011 and ends on August 29, 2011 for most parts of America and parts of north-western Europe. Hawaii, Alaska, and certain parts of north-west USA and Canada (e.g., on the western coast of Washington and British Columbia) finish fasting on August 28.

Most parts of Asia including the middle-east, and Australia begin fasting on August 1 and end on August 29.

To be sure, you may wish to check the new moon timings and compare them to the sunset times at your location. For example, if the new moon is before sunset of July 30 at your location, you would fast on the 31st (as is the case for some places like North America). If it is before sunset of July 31, then you begin fasting on August 1.

Similarly, please check the sunset time at your location and compare it with the new moon time for the end of the month.

The Night of Destiny (Night of Power) will be on August 25 2011, God willing (if you begin fasting on July 31) and August 26 if you begin fasting on August 1.

The new moon times to be used for determining the beginning and ending of Ramadan are given below for UT (Universal time) – also called GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).

To calculate the Ramadan start date - compare the time of the New Moon with the Sunset in your location. If the new moon is born before sunset, you should fast the next day God willing. Similarly to determine the last day of fasting - compare the time of the next New Moon with the sunset in your location. If the new moon is born before sunset, the month of Ramadan is complete on that day.

Phases of the moon data (including the new moon) for this year (and beyond) are available at the US Naval Observatory. All times are in UTC (also known as GMT). To convert to your time zone you can use the Time Zone Converter. Calculate the information for the date you are interested. Compare the time of sunset with the time for the new moon (in local time).

A Ramadan Calculator is available for assisting you in calculating the days of fasting.