Ramadan[b] (Arabic: رَمَضَان, romanized: Ramaḍān [ra.ma.dˤaːn];[c] also spelled Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan, or Ramathan) is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm), prayer (salah), reflection, and community.

[13][14] Fasting from dawn to sunset is obligatory (fard) for all adult Muslims who are not acutely or chronically ill, travelling, elderly, breastfeeding, diabetic, pregnant, or menstruating.

[22] Accordingly, during the hours of fasting, Muslims refrain not only from food and drink, but also tobacco products, sexual relations, and sinful behavior,[23][24] devoting themselves instead to prayer and study of the Quran.

The Muslim communities in some countries with historical Persian influence, such as Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, India, Pakistan and Turkey, use the word Ramazan or Ramzan.

Ramadan is the month on which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the standard ˹to distinguish between right and wrong˺.

Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you, and perhaps you will be grateful.Muslims hold that all scripture was revealed during Ramadan, the scrolls of Abraham, Torah, Psalms, Gospel, and Quran having been handed down on the first, sixth, twelfth, thirteenth (in some sources, eighteenth)[42] and twenty-fourth Ramadans,[year needed] respectively.

[43][self-published source] Muhammad is said to have received his first quranic revelation on Laylat al-Qadr, one of five odd-numbered nights that fall during the last ten days of Ramadan.

[46][Quran 2:183] They point to the fact that the pre-Islamic pagans of Mecca fasted on the tenth day of Muharram to expiate sin and avoid drought.

[47][self-published source] Philip Jenkins argues that the observance of Ramadan fasting grew out of "the strict Lenten discipline of the Syrian Churches," a postulation corroborated by other scholars, including theologian Paul-Gordon Chandler,[48][49] but disputed by some Muslim academics.

Muslims believe that Ramadan teaches them to practice self-discipline, self-control,[64] sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate, thus encouraging actions of generosity and compulsory charity (zakat).

[citation needed] Zakat, often translated as "the poor-rate", is the fixed percentage of income a believer is required to give to the poor; the practice is obligatory as one of the pillars of Islam.

[83] The city of Semarang marks the beginning of Ramadan with the Dugderan carnival, which involves parading the warak ngendog, a horse-dragon hybrid creature allegedly inspired by the Buraq.

[86] Certain kinds of food are especially popular during Ramadan, such as large beef or buffalo in Aceh and snails in Central Java.

[89] During Ramadan in the Middle East, a mesaharati beats a drum across a neighbourhood to wake people up to eat the suhoor meal.

[101] The penalty for publicly eating, drinking or smoking during Ramadan can result in fines or incarceration in the countries of Kuwait,[102][103] Saudi Arabia,[104][105][106] Morocco,[107][108] Algeria[109] and Malaysia.

[116][117][118] Radio Free Asia alleged that residents in Kashgar Prefecture were encouraged to report those who fasted to the authorities.

[121] Antara News,[122] Daily Times,[123] and Pakistan Today have also brought up accounts of residents in Xinjiang fasting.

[124] According to a 2024 visit to Xinjiang by a reporter from the British magazine The Economist, many Uyghurs do not fast during Ramadan because, according to locals, "the Chinese government guarantees freedom of religion".

[128] There are known health risks involved in pregnant women who fast, which include the potential of induced labour and gestational diabetes.

[134] It has also been shown that there is a significant improvement in 10 years coronary heart disease risk score and other cardiovascular risk factors such as lipids profile, systolic blood pressure, weight, BMI and waist circumference in subjects with a previous history of cardiovascular disease.

[136] In many cultures, it is associated with heavy food and water intake during Suhur and Iftar times, which may do more harm than good.

[138] The education departments of Berlin and the United Kingdom have tried to discourage students from fasting during Ramadan, as they claim that not eating or drinking can lead to concentration problems and bad grades.

[142] The length of the dawn to sunset time varies in different parts of the world according to summer or winter solstices of the Sun.

[154] Despite the reduction in productivity, merchants can enjoy higher profit margins in Ramadan due to increase in demand.