Key Points
- Australia's Grand Mufti, Dr Ibrahim Abu Muhammad, has announced Ramadan will start on 12 March.
- Ramadan's date is based on the lunar calendar and changes each year.
- During this month, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset while increasing prayer and charity.
Ramadan will start in Australia on Tuesday 12 March, following a declaration by the country's Grand Mufti, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamad.
The month of Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, which is based on the cycles of the moon around the Earth.
Since it’s 10 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, the dates for Islamic occasions vary every year.
The first day of the holy month is decided by the sighting of the crescent moon by the naked eye.
Theologians and scholars gather every year to determine the onset of Ramadan, which varies across the globe according to location.
This year, the first night of the Holy Month of Ramadan and Taraweeh Prayer will be on Monday 11 March after sunset.
The holy month ends with feasting and gifts on Islam's biggest festival, Eid al-Fitr, which this year will start on 9 April.
What is Ramadan?
The holy month is a significant time of spiritual reflection.
During this month, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset while increasing prayer and charity.
While fasting, Muslims also abstain from smoking (that includes shisha and vaping), taking medication, and sexual activity.
Many people also make an effort to read more Quran, spend time at the mosque, and refrain from immoral behaviour such as gossiping, thinking unkind thoughts, or wasting time.
The first meal at sunset is called iftar — the breaking of the fast. It's common practice for Muslims to start their iftar by eating a date (or three) and water.
Muslims are also encouraged to wake up just before dawn for a meal before their day of fasting starts — this is called suhur in Arabic, or sehri in Urdu.
