Aljazeera tracked the first day of Ramadan 2025 and found that the holy month in Mecca will start on Saturday, March I following the sighting of crescent by the moon-sighting committee in Saudi Arabia. 

In the United States, this responsibility is entrusted to the Fiqh Council of North America. The Council follows astronomical calculations as the Sharia accepted methodology, and announced on January 1, 2015 that Ramadan 2015 will be on March 1, 2015.

Other countries follow their own moon sightings, and the crescent was not sighted in Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and several other countries across Asia making the first day of Ramadan March 2.

Ramadan occurs on the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Islam, like most Abrahamic religions follows a lunar calendar, based on the sighting of new moon. Since a lunar calendar is shorter than the solar (and the lunar month has 29 or 30 days) there is a difference of about 11 days in each subsequent year.

Fasting in Ramadan is one of the obligations in Islam as stated in a saying of the Prophet narrated by Abdullah son of Omar, “Islam has been built on five pillars: testifying there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger, establishing prayer, paying Zakat, and making pilgrimage, who can afford once in lifetime.” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim).

Ramadan is the most anticipated month of the year by Muslims around the world. It is a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, charity, and devotion by the community.

Fasting was prescribed in the second year after migration. Qur’an addresses Muslims as follow: “O You who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you. That you may become God-Conscious. Fasting for a fixed number of days; But if any of you is ill, or on journey, the prescribed number should be made up from days later. For those who can do it with hardship, is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will – it is better for him. And it is better for you that you fast, if you only knew.” (Al Baqarah 2: 183-184).

Fasting in Ramadan is restraining from food, drink and lawful sexual activity dawn to dusk. It is obligatory on all adult Muslims who are acutely or chronically ill, travelling, elderly, breastfeeding, diabetic, pregnant, or menstruating. The predawn meal referred to as suhur and nightly meal called iftar is to break the fast. Iftar is in a family gathering, guests are welcome.

Ramadan is a holy month, no free mixing in Islam, freely dating is not permissible, the man who wants to pursue a female, does so with the interest to marry, not for having fun. They should meet in the presence of her parents or before another set of reliable Muslim relatives. Where there are 2 unmarried people of the opposite gender alone, Satan is the 3rd attendee. Meeting should be in a public place with a reputable family member for each of you. .

American Muslims practice open house at the mosques and Islamic centers, and welcome people of other faiths, homeless and indigent, especially at the time of breaking of fast. The spiritual rewards of fasting are believed to be multiplied. Muslims devote them to prayers and study of the Qur’an.

After the late evening Isha prayers, they make Ramadan-specific prayers called Tarawih in congregation. Mosques and Islamic centers are buzzing with such devotions late in the evening.

Ramadan fasting is to commemorate and thank God for His revelation of the Qur’an as stated in the following verse of the Quran: “Ramadan is the month in which was sent down the Quran, a guide to mankind, also clear signs for guidance, and judgement (between right and wrong). So every one of you, who is present at his home during that month, should spend it in fasting. But if any one of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period should be made up by days later.

God intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you to difficulties. He wants you to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and that you shall be grateful.” (Al Baqarah 2: verse 185).

Prolonged fasting helps a person attain spiritual freedom from the material world. According to online Islam Web, rewards of fasting in Ramadan are multiplied, ranks are elevated, supplications are answered, sins are erased, and grave misdeeds are pardoned, and Allah releases people from Hellfire every day. The Prophet called Ramadan the month of patience.

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month, which Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has enjoined you to fast. In it the gates of heavens are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and every devil is chained up.'"

Because Ramadan is of such a high status acts of obedience during the month are of immense virtue and earn a greatly multiplied reward, the acts of disobedience during this month is greater and more serious than sins in other times. So a Muslims should make the most of this month by doing acts of worship and righteous deeds, and giving up bad deeds, with the hope that Allah will bless by accepting those deeds and enable him to adhere to the truth. 

But a bad deed always incurs an equal burden of sin and is never multiplied in Ramadan or otherwise, whereas a good deed receives multiple rewards, tenfold or up tp many times more than that. 

Muslims also become more charitable during Ramadan. Some wait to give their Zakat during this month because it earns more rewards from God Almighty.

Laylat Al-Qadar, Night of Power and its benefits

The revelation of the Qur’an to the Prophet was started during the night in the month of Ramadan. The Qur’an called that holy night laylat Al-Qadar, as described in the following verses: “We have indeed revealed this message in the Night of Power. And what will explain to you what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by God’s permission on every errand: Peace... This until the rise of Morn. (Al Qadar 97: verses 1-5).

Surah Ad Dkhan 44, verse 4 says the following about this night: We sent it (this Qur’an) down on a blessed night (i.e. the night of Al-Qadar in the month of Ramadan). Verily, We are ever warning mankind.

Therein that night is decreed every matter of ordainment, i.e. the matters of deaths, births, provisions, calamities for the whole coming year as decreed by God. A thousand months equals 82 years, which is the lifetime of a human being. Narrated Aisha Allah’s Messenger said ,”Search for the Night of Qadar in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan.” (narrated by Bukhari).

The Prophet said, "Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven."

Muslims in America celebrate the occasion by gathering in mosques or Islamic centers and stay there for the night vigil. It is also the time to hold competitions among youngsters in memorized Quran recitations and their knowledge of Islam.