The holy month of Ramadan, a sacred period for Muslims around the world, begins this Friday at sunset.
Ramadan is considered the most important month of the year for followers of Islam. It marks the revelation of the Quran — when the Prophet Muhammad received divine guidance from the Archangel Jibril (known in the Christian tradition as Gabriel), which later formed the basis of Islam’s holy book. Observing the fast during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, obligatory for all adult Muslims. During daylight hours, believers refrain from food, drink, entertainment, and marital relations.
“The essence of fasting is to nurture our spirituality, strengthen our faith, and deepen our connection with our Creator, Allah the Almighty. May Allah help us enter this year’s Ramadan with the right intentions, seeking only His pleasure, because fasting is an act of worship that shapes us in the best possible way,” said Ramil Adygamov, Rector of the Muhammadzhan Husainov Islamic Institute, part of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia, in a comment to TASS.
He emphasized that the ultimate goal of fasting is to increase personal piety. “The purpose of the fast is to spiritually elevate us, bring us closer to Allah, improve our behavior and ethics, and ultimately make us more devout and God-conscious people,” Adygamov added.
The first full day of fasting will begin at dawn on March 1, with the final day concluding at sunset on March 29. The timing of Ramadan follows the lunar calendar.
“The start of Ramadan is traditionally determined by the sighting of the new moon, and the month ends with the appearance of the next new moon. Observing the sky is recommended, but in our northern regions, the weather doesn’t always allow for clear sightings, so we now rely on astronomical calculations,” Adygamov explained.
Ramadan will officially end on March 30, celebrated with the festive holiday of Eid al-Fitr, known in Russian as Uraza Bayram.
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Based on materials from TASS