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Ramadan

[ rahm-uh-dahn, rahm-uh-dahn, ram-uh-dan ]

noun

, Islam.
  1. the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
  2. the festival celebrated during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, commemorating the revelation of the Quran to Muhammad: observed with strict fasting from dawn till sunset and, often, feasting and festivities after sunset.


Ramadan

/ ˌræməˈdɑːn; ˌræməˈzɑːn /

noun

  1. the ninth month of the Muslim year, lasting 30 days, during which strict fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset
  2. the fast itself
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Ramadan

  1. A holy month in Islam ; the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Devout Muslims fast between sunrise and sunset during each day of Ramadan.
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Word History and Origins

Origin of Ramadan1

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Arabic ramaḍān, from ramaḍ “dryness, scorchedness,” from ramiḍa “to become intensely hot, be scorched”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of Ramadan1

C16: from Arabic, literally: the hot month, from ramad dryness
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Example Sentences

Ramadan challenged Muslim fundamentalists and encouraged dialogue between religions, but was accused by some critics of promoting political Islam.

From BBC

It was Ramadan, just like when he had left, only two years before.

It was Ramadan, so no one had eaten.

There were moments of fusion at home as well, with celebrations of the High Holidays sometimes merging with Ramadan.

He also recounted meeting Raisi in Tehran during Ramadan, the holy Muslim fasting month, and heard the president say the Palestinian issue remains the key one of the Muslim world.

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More About Ramadan

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which many Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset each day.

The word Ramadan is also used to refer to this daily fast.

During Ramadan, Muslims who fast start the day by eating a meal, called suhoor, before sunrise. The fast is then broken every night after sunset with a meal called iftar. The strictness of the fast varies among Muslims, and not every Muslim fasts during Ramadan. Children, elderly people, and people who have a health condition or are sick or pregnant are not required to fast, and often eat and drink during the day.

Along with the daily fast and other forms of abstinence, many Muslims observe Ramadan by praying, attending services at their mosque, trying to give up bad habits, and performing charitable acts.

The day after Ramadan ends, the festival known as Eid-al-fitr begins. Its name means “festival of the breaking of the fast.”

One traditional greeting for Ramadan is Ramadan Mubarak, roughly meaning “Happy Ramadan” or “Blessed Ramadan.”

When is Ramadan?

In 2024, Ramadan begins on March 1o at sunset and ends on April 9. In 2025, Ramadan will begin on February 28 and end on March 29.

Ramadan always lasts either 29 or 30 days, because it’s based on the Islamic calendar, which is a lunar calendar. Because of that, the dates during which it is observed vary from year to year.

What is the origin of Ramadan?

The first records of the word Ramadan in English come from the 1500s. It comes from the Arabic word ramaḍān, literally meaning “the hot month,” from ramad, meaning “dryness.” However, Ramadan isn’t tied to a particular season. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar that consists of 354 days, so its 12 months slowly cycle through different seasons.

The tradition of fasting during Ramadan is done in commemoration of the story of the Qur’an (the sacred text of Islam) being revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

What are some terms that often get used in discussing Ramadan?

How is Ramadan discussed in real life?

While Ramadan is a time of fasting, Muslims often look forward to it as a time of religious and cultural importance.

Try using Ramadan!

True or False?

Ramadan always lasts for 30 days.

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