Do you have any Ramadan questions about the facts of Ramadan or Ramadan rules? So, this post can be interesting for you.
We have talked a lot about the meaning of Ramadan, how to prepare for it and welcome Ramadan, Ramadan symbols and why we celebrate it, how to make most of Ramadan, activities for Ramadan reflections, and blessings and we looked deeper to the meaning of Ramadan night of power as well as my first Ramadan experience, counting down Ramadan days with inspiration, good deeds ideas for every day of Ramadan and healthy living Ramadan.
Oh my goodness, it has been quite a journey for me to write all these articles. I am waiting with joy and excitement for witnessing the blessings of Ramadan.
Now it is time to answer some frequently asked questions about Ramadan. Are you ready? Shall we?
So, let’s start.
10 Interesting facts about Ramadan
- Ramadan fasting happens on the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. Ramadan starts with the sighting of the crescent and is completed in one lunar cycle. Many Muslims insist on the local physical sighting of the moon to mark the beginning of Ramadan, but others use the calculated time of the new moon.
- Menstruating women do not fast during the time of menstruation.
- If you eat or drink something unintentionally during fasting, this does not break your fast.
- If the circumstance of you missing the fasting is permanent or present for an extended amount of time, one may recompense by feeding a needy person for every day missed.
- The fasting starts from the actual sunrise, which is before the visual sunrise. That is why the fajr prayer time is considered. The Athan is a sign of the beginning of the fasting period.
- According to Islamic tradition, the prophet used to retreat for a month every year to the cave of Hira, which was in a mountain outside of the city of Mecca.
- In 610 C.E, at the age of 40, Gabriel, appeared in his angelic form and recited to him the first revelations of the Quran and informed him that he is God’s prophet. That is when Prophet Muhammad fled the cave thinking he was visited by an evil spirit. He ran down the mountain in fear and directly went home.
- He asked Lady Khadijah (his wife) to cover him up (with a blanket or piece of cloth). Hearing what happened on the mount Hira, Khadijah took Prophet Muhammad to her devout Christian relative. Prophet Muhammad, then, was told by the relative of Khadijah that it was Gabriel that had visited him earlier that day.
- After that night, the prophet is believed to have continued to receive revelations of the Quran over 23 years.
- In many countries, there are iftar tents, where people are given free food in the streets and they are eating altogether. Moreover in some places, in front of the mosques, people bring their own food and sit all together and create a huge table on the Earth by sharing each other’s food.
Ramadan questions
Ramadan questions #1: Does Ramadan change every year?
Yes. Because Islam follows a lunar year. Islam does have twelve months of 28 to 30 days each, making each year about 354 days, 11 days shorter than the 365 day year.
Ramadan questions #2: Ramadan is which month of the Islamic calendar?
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar.
The 12 months of the Islamic Calendar, in order are these:
1.Muharram
2.Safar
3.Rabi’ al-awwal
4.Rabi’ al-Thani
5.Jumada al-awwal
6.Jumada al-Thani
7.Rajab
8.Sha’ban
9.Ramadan
10.Shawwal
11.Dhu al-Qi’dah
12.Dhu al-Hijjah.
Ramadan questions #3: How many Ramadan in a year? Can Ramadan happen twice a year?
Generally, there is 1 Ramadan in a year, but this can vary. Ramadan will be occurring twice in 2030. The first Ramadan month is predicted to begin on January 6 and the second one on December 26, in the same year.
Ramadan questions #4: Can Ramadan be 28 days, 29 days, or 31 days?
The Islamic calendar is based on the moon (Lunar), while the solar calendar is based on the sun (Solar). The solar calendar months are made of 30 or 31 days except for February. The Lunar calendar months are made of 29 or 30 days.
Since each lunation (When the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, the bright side of the Moon is facing away from the Earth, which is known as a new moon.) is approximately 29 1⁄2 days (29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, 3 seconds, or 29.530588 days), it is common for the months of a lunar calendar to alternate between 29 and 30 days.
Ramadan can, therefore, last for either 29 days or 30 days and Ramadan can not last for 28 nor 31 days.
Ramadan rules
Before starting with the questions about Ramadan rules, I want to invite us to read some stories from dear Rabia of Basra (Rābiʿa al-ʿAdawiyya al-Qaysiyya). She was a Muslim saint and Sufi mystic, who brought the idea of Love to God for the first time in Islam.
One day several saints saw that Rābi‘a had taken fire in one hand and water in the other and was running with speed. “O lady of the next world, where are you going and what is the measure of this?” “I am going to light the fire in Paradise and to pour water on to Hell so that both veils may completely disappear… What if the hope of Paradise and the fear of hell did not exist? Not one would worship his Lord or obey Him.”
(Smith 1994, p. 123)
“I have not served God from fear of Hell, for I should be like a wretched hireling if I did it from fear; nor from love [ḥubban] of Paradise, for I should be a bad servant if I served for the sake of what was given, but I have served Him only for the Love [ḥubban] of Him and desire [shawqan] for Him. (Smith 1994, p. 125)”
Rābiʿa al-ʿAdawiyya
May the wisdom of Rabia enlighten us this Ramadan and light our way.
Get Our Ramadan E-Book
Live Ramadan As A Journey of Love!
YES, I WANT!
Ramadan rules #1: Who must fast during Ramadan and who doesn’t have to fast during Ramadan?
Fasting at Ramadan is fard (obligatory) for Muslims according to Islam. There are some exceptions as we list below.
- Pre-pubescent children are not required to fast.
- Diabetics and nursing or pregnant women are exempt from fasting during Ramadan.
- Menstruating women do not fast during the time of menstruation.
- Travelers who intend to spend fewer than five days away from home.
- An old person who is not physically able to fast.
- People with serious illness.
- Those with a mental disability.
Ramadan rules #2: What happens if you miss a fast in Ramadan?
- If the circumstance preventing fasting is temporary, a person is required to make up for the missed days after the month of Ramadan is over and before the next Ramadan arrives.
- Should the circumstance be permanent or present for an extended amount of time, one may recompense by feeding a needy person for every day missed.
- If one does not fit into any category of exemption and breaks the fast out of forgetfulness, the fast is still valid.
Ramadan rules #3: What cannot you do during Ramadan?
Eating, drinking, and sexual activities are not allowed between dawn (fajr), and sunset (maghrib).
Moreover, Ramadan is about gaining God’s consciousness, so people are invited to refrain from violence, anger, envy, greed, lust, and gossip.
Ramadan rules #4: Can you drink water during Ramadan?
Yes, you can drink water, between sunset and dawn.
Ramadan rules #5: When can you eat during Ramadan?
The fasting begins at the Fajr prayer just before dawn and is broken at sunset. You can eat outside of these hours.
Ramadan rules #6: Ramadan, can you eat after fajr?
The Athan is a sign of the beginning of the fasting period. Therefore, the person cannot drink or eat anything after the Fajr prayer call.
Ramadan rules #7: Ramadan, can you eat until sunrise?
There is a difference between actual sunrise and a visual sunrise. The fasting starts from the actual sunrise, which is before the visual sunrise. That is why the fajr prayer time is taken into account. So you can eat until fajr prayer time, not until sunrise.
Ramadan rules #8: Can you brush your teeth in Ramadan?
You can brush your teeth and rinse your mouth, but it’s not permitted to swallow any water.
Ramadan rules #9: Can you smoke during Ramadan?
Yes, you can, between sunset and dawn.
Ramadan rules #10: Can you vape during Ramadan?
Yes, you can, between sunset and dawn.
Ramadan rules #11: Can you listen to music during Ramadan?
It is quite interesting to see many questions on the web around listening to music in Ramadan if it is allowed or not. I even listed some of them, to show my surprise:
- Can you listen to music after iftar in Ramadan?
- Is it haram to listen to music in Ramadan?
- Can you listen to music in Ramadan when not fasting?
- Why can’t you listen to music during Ramadan?
- Is it haram to listen to instrumental music during Ramadan?
- Can you listen to classical music during Ramadan?
- Is it haram to listen to music at night during Ramadan?
- Can you listen to music while fasting during Ramadan?
- Is it haram to listen to rap music during Ramadan?
- Can you listen to clean music during Ramadan?
- Is it haram to listen to Islamic music during Ramadan?
- Can you listen to nasheeds in Ramadan?
Even though there had been a discussion around if music is permitted to listen in Islam or not, it is important to emphasize that there is not any information in Qur’an prohibiting listening to music. Moreover, there are hadith of Prophet Muhammad showing his interest in music.
Music has been used by many spiritual paths including Islam as a way to connect to the moment. Sema (whirling dance) and music together have been used in many rituals in Islamic tradition.
Sound and music are incredibly special for me. It has been the quickest and deepest tool that I have used so far to connect with my deeper truth and with the One.
Conclusion
Islam is a religion that is inviting people to use their critical thinking and analytical capabilities. Human beings, we have been gifted minds to use.
So, for all those questions we have in our mind about Ramadan rules, for me, the path to go would be to check what Qur’an says and Prophet Muhammed says, and if there is not any rule around it, use my mind and gut feelings and see how I feel about it, instead of what others tell me to do or not.
May this Ramadan be a heart-opening one where we can see and know the realities behind the veils.
Ramadan Mubarak!
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Ramadan Board!
