What is Ramadan?
According to the Islamic calendar, the Lunar Calendar, the month of Ramadan for the year 2025 will begin on Saturday, March 1, 2025, and end on Saturday, March 29, 2025. The relevant dates may advance or fall one day each year depending on the observation of the crescent of the moon. Ramadan is a month with features such as fasting, worship, and helping each other. The Eid al-Fitr, celebrated at the end of the month of Ramadan, is greeted with enthusiasm along with spiritual purification. The reason for its different dates each year is that it is followed on the Hijri calendar. Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims, in which fasting, one of the five basic conditions of Islam, is fulfilled. Ramadan, which is followed according to the Hijri calendar, has great importance because it was revealed in the early years of Islam. This month, which starts with sunrise and ends with eating, drinking and staying away from bad habits, aims to discipline the soul. Worship intensifies during this month and strengthens social solidarity as a month that helps to remember the importance of sharing and helping each other.
How are Ramadan Dates Determined?
The month of Ramadan is determined based on the Islamic Hijri calendar and this calendar, which is described as a lunar calendar, progresses according to the phases of the moon. Each Hijri month begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon. The month of Ramadan is also declared by observing the moonrise. Since the Hijri calendar is approximately 10 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, the dates of Ramadan shift back each year. Since this difference also causes seasonal changes, it also allows Muslims to fast with different difficulties.
Basic Practices in the Month of Ramadan
Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan for spiritual discipline and discipline of the soul. They stay away from swearing, foul language, physical and visual adultery, and strengthen their spiritual strength with the prohibition of taking any food from sunrise to sunset. Prayers and worships intensify during this month. Tarawih prayers are indispensable rituals along with sahur and iftar tables. Before the end of Ramadan, material aid such as alms and fitrah is provided to those in need, aiming for those in need to enter the Ramadan holiday happily. Ramadan is a holy month in which worship increases and solidarity comes to the fore, as it strengthens both individual and social purification.
Fasting (Sawm)
The daily fast held during the month of Ramadan begins with the imsak time at the end of the night, at dawn, and ends with the evening call to prayer, which symbolizes the sunset. Eating and drinking are permitted with this call to prayer. In addition to eating and drinking, as well as being free in human needs and family relationships, during the month of Ramadan, adultery and bad habits are avoided at any time because it is believed that these situations reduce the spiritual power of Ramadan. Islam exempts some people from fasting by observing the principle of convenience. Those who are sick, traveling, pregnant and breastfeeding women, the elderly and those who cannot endure fasting are exempted from fasting. Those who can fast later can fast later, and those who cannot fast can pay a ransom of the amount determined by Islamic law for the fasts they could not fast.
Prayers and Worship
Worships, prayers and repentance increase during Ramadan. According to the principle that Allah is forgiving and loves to forgive, it is stated that the doors of repentance are always open according to the principle of Islam. In this month, when spiritual calmness and cleanliness are gained, more repentance is made and it is a period of getting closer to Allah. Muslims try to read the Quran every day during the month of Ramadan and complete the entire Quran during this holy month. The tarawih prayer is one of the additional acts of worship performed only during the month of Ramadan. The prayers and dhikr performed during the month of Ramadan are acts of worship performed with the intention of gaining Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. This holy month of approximately one month is a month in which patience is gained as well as worship and spiritual renewal.
Charity (Zakat and Charity)
In this month, when cooperation and solidarity are at the forefront, it is important to reach out to those in need with Zakat and charity. Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam, and it is a method by which Muslims with better financial means give a certain portion of their wealth to those in need. Charity, on the other hand, is a voluntary method and all kinds of it are accepted. According to Islam, caressing a child’s head, smiling at someone, or helping any living being in need is charity. During the month of Ramadan, when spiritual maturity is gained, Fitre, Zakat and Sadaqah contribute to social solidarity. In this way, Muslims try to gain the approval of Allah and also aim to reduce inequality in society.
When is Eid al-Fitr 2025?
Eid al-Fitr falls between Sunday, March 30, 2025 and Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Eid al-Fitr is an important celebration where Muslims deserve joy and enthusiasm along with a month of spiritual purification. The holiday is completed with traditions such as family visits, gift-giving, special meals, treats and social assistance. During the month of Ramadan, thanks are given to Allah for the acceptance of worships and the joy of the holiday is shared by coming together.
Tips for celebrating Ramadan in 2025
Here are some tips to protect your energy and health while fasting the day before to celebrate Eid al-Fitr in 2025;
- Eat a light and balanced diet during sahur. Avoid excessively oily, spicy, salty and even fried foods. Consume foods such as cheese and yogurt for protein and whole grain breads for fiber.
- Avoid eating in a way that will tire your stomach and digestive system after a long fast for iftar. When you take your first bite, all your heat and hunger will disappear. Your first bite at iftar should be dates and water. Then, soothe your stomach with a bowl of soup and salad. Eat as lightly as possible at iftar.
- Your body may react to being dehydrated throughout the day. In this case, you may usually encounter conditions such as diarrhea. Try to drink as much water as possible between iftar and sahur.
- Avoid overfilling your stomach and eating quickly, protect your stomach by eating as slowly as possible.
- Consume energy-giving foods such as almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts. These foods support your body’s energy gain.
Eating right during Ramadan and managing your energy correctly both makes fasting easier and allows you to perform your worships efficiently.
