The Complete Ramadan Guide
Fasting, Worship & Spiritual Growth

What Is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and the holiest month in the Islamic year. It is the month in which the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and it is obligatory upon every adult Muslim to fast from dawn to sunset throughout its 29 or 30 days.

Allah describes the month in the Quran:

The Prophet ﷺ described its extraordinary status: "When Ramadan enters, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the devils are chained." (Bukhari & Muslim)

Rules of Fasting (Sawm)

Fasting in Ramadan — called Sawm — is the fourth pillar of Islam. It involves abstaining from all of the following from the break of dawn (Fajr) until sunset (Maghrib):

• Eating and drinking (including water)
• Sexual relations between spouses
• Smoking and all forms of intoxicants
• Deliberately inducing vomiting

Beyond these physical restraints, scholars emphasise that fasting should also include restraining the tongue from lying, backbiting, and obscene speech, and restraining the eyes and ears from haram. The Prophet ﷺ warned: "Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink." (Bukhari)

Who Is Exempt from Fasting?

Islam provides compassionate exemptions. The following groups are either exempt or permitted to break their fast:

Suhoor and Iftar

Suhoor — The Pre-Dawn Meal

Suhoor is the meal eaten before Fajr time. It is a confirmed Sunnah (recommended practice) of the Prophet ﷺ, who said: "Eat suhoor, for in suhoor there is barakah." (Bukhari & Muslim). Even if one eats only a few dates or sips of water, it is recommended not to skip suhoor entirely.

The wisdom is practical as well as spiritual — suhoor provides the energy needed to fast productively, and the act of waking for it connects the fasting person to the Fajr prayer, often leading them to stay up for worship rather than returning to sleep.

Iftar — Breaking the Fast

Iftar is the meal at sunset that breaks the fast. It is Sunnah to break the fast immediately when Maghrib time enters — not to delay. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The people will continue to be fine as long as they hasten to break the fast." (Bukhari)

The recommended way to break the fast is with dates and water, as the Prophet ﷺ did: "When one of you breaks his fast, let him break it with dates, and if he cannot find them, then with water, for it is purifying." (Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi)

The supplication at Iftar time is one of the accepted du'as: "Allahumma laka sumtu wa bika amantu wa alayka tawakkaltu wa ala rizqika aftartu" — "O Allah, for You I fasted and in You I believed and upon You I rely, and with Your provision I break my fast."

Tarawih Prayer

Tarawih are additional night prayers performed after Isha during Ramadan. While not obligatory, they are a strongly recommended Sunnah and one of the most spiritually rewarding acts of Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ said:

Tarawih is typically prayed in congregation at the mosque, with the imam reciting a portion of the Quran each night — completing the entire Quran over the 30 nights of Ramadan. It is usually 8 or 20 rak'ahs (scholars differ on the preferred number) prayed in sets of two.

Quran in Ramadan

The Quran and Ramadan are inseparable — the month's greatest spiritual activity is engaging with the Book of Allah. The Prophet ﷺ reviewed the entire Quran with Jibreel (Gabriel) every Ramadan, and twice in his final year.

For Muslims today, the recommended practice is to complete the entire Quran (khatm) at least once during Ramadan. With 30 juz (parts), reading one juz per day achieves this. Each juz takes approximately 40–60 minutes to recite, or can be split across the day after each prayer.

Even if a full completion is not possible, increase your daily recitation significantly in Ramadan. Use the WeMuslim Pro Quran reader with its bookmark feature to track your progress through the month.

Laylatul Qadr — The Night of Power

Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power or Decree) is the most significant night in the Islamic year. Allah describes it:

Worship on this one night is worth more than 83 years of worship. No Muslim who grasps this reality can afford to let it pass unnoticed.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Seek Laylatul Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadan." (Bukhari). The odd nights are the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 29th nights. The 27th night is considered most likely by many scholars, though the Prophet ﷺ did not specify it to keep all nights alive with worship.

The recommended du'a for Laylatul Qadr, taught by the Prophet ﷺ to Aisha (RA), is:

Zakat al-Fitr

Before the Eid al-Fitr prayer, every Muslim who has means must pay Zakat al-Fitr — a small but obligatory charity for each member of the household, including children. Its purpose is twofold: to purify the fasting person from any shortcomings during Ramadan, and to ensure that the poor can celebrate Eid with food.

The amount is approximately 2.5kg of a staple food (wheat, rice, barley, or dates) per person, or its cash equivalent. This must be paid before the Eid prayer — not after. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever pays it before the prayer, it is an accepted Zakat. Whoever pays it after the prayer, it is merely a charity." (Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah)

Eid al-Fitr — The Festival of Breaking the Fast

The month of Ramadan concludes with Eid al-Fitr — a celebration that begins when the new crescent moon of Shawwal is sighted. On Eid day, Muslims:

• Wake early, perform Ghusl (full purification bath), and wear their best clothes
• Eat something before the Eid prayer — breaking the habit of fasting
• Walk to the Eid prayer ground (musalla) while reciting the Eid takbeer
• Perform the two-rak'ah Eid prayer in congregation
• Gather with family, exchange gifts, visit relatives and neighbours

How to Maximise Ramadan

1. Set specific goals before Ramadan begins — How many juz of Quran will you complete? How many nights will you attend Tarawih? Which bad habits will you eliminate? Written goals are achieved at far higher rates than unwritten ones.
2. Protect your time ruthlessly — Reduce social media and entertainment dramatically. Every hour of Ramadan is irreplaceable. The Prophet ﷺ worked harder in Ramadan than any other month.
3. Make lots of du'a — The fasting person's du'a is answered. The Prophet ﷺ said: "There are three whose du'a is not rejected: the fasting person until he breaks his fast, the just ruler, and the oppressed person." (At-Tirmidhi)
4. Give generously — The Prophet ﷺ was the most generous of people, and in Ramadan he was "like the blowing wind" in his giving. Every act of charity in Ramadan is multiplied. Pay your Zakat al-Fitr early.
5. Make I'tikaf in the last ten days — Secluding oneself in the mosque for the last ten nights of Ramadan is a powerful Sunnah that virtually guarantees catching Laylatul Qadr.
6. Use WeMuslim Pro — Track your prayer times, read Quran with our built-in reader, use the Tasbih counter for your dhikr, and set Athan alerts so you never miss an important time.

Ramadan is the annual opportunity Allah gives every Muslim to transform — to break bad habits, build new ones, deepen their relationship with Allah, and emerge as a better version of themselves. May Allah allow us to reach Ramadan, accept our fasting and worship, and forgive our sins. Ameen.