The Month of Ramadan

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28/12/2020

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The Month of Ramadan falls on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is seen by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, contemplation, and family reunions.

The annual fasting of Ramadan is the fourth of the Five Pillars of Islam, and lasts for either twenty-nine or thirty days, starting from the sighting of the Ramadan crescent moon. The end of Ramadan is declared either at the sighting of Shawwal crescent or after completing thirty days of fasting if the moon's phases were not sighted.

Determining the beginning of Ramadan in the Kingdom

Regarding the sighting of the Ramadan crescent, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia religiously relies on direct visual observation of the moon's phases and the crescents in the sky. An observer and his assistants are commissioned to observe the crescents. Confirming the beginning of Ramadan in the Kingdom depends on the observer's testimony under the supervision of the Supreme Court. Then, Ramadan is officially announced by the Saudi media channels in an official statement on behalf of the Royal Court.

The most convenient areas for clearly sighting the crescent are flat lands that are higher than sea level, with broader visual dimensions, such as the Hotat Sudair Center in al-Majma'ah Governorate, north of Riyadh.

In the past, the first audible announcement to confirm the beginning of Ramadan was the sound of gunpowder firing from the cannon of Mount Qaiqaan in Makkah al-Mukarramah.

Origins of the name

The name Ramadan originated from the climate of the Arabian Peninsula in the past. It stems from the Arabic root al-ramad or al-Ramdhah, which means the scorching heat of the summer's sun.

Ramadan is commonly associated with Eid al-Fitr, since the end of Ramadan marks Eid al-Fitr holiday and the beginning of Shawwal. In general, Ramadan can be considered the Saudi calendar's gateway to the season of Eid and official holidays in the Kingdom. According to the Islamic calendar, Eid al-Fitr holiday falls on the last five days of Ramadan and is followed two months later by Eid al-Adha holiday.

Fasting in Ramadan

Fasting in Ramadan begins at the specified time of dawn and continues until sunset. It is obligatory for all adult Muslims. However, people with chronic or acute health conditions or who have personal circumstances, such as travel, are exempt from fasting.

In contrast to the three-meal traditional system distributed throughout the day, meals during Ramadan start sequentially after Iftar (the break-fast meal at sunset) until Suhoor (the pre-dawn meal). The first meal a person eats after the break-fast is called Iftar, and the last meal before dawn is referred to as Suhoor, which corresponds with the precise time of the day during which it is Islamically permissible to eat a meal, i.e., the last third of the night, linguistically referred to as al-Sahar.

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