1st Ramadan · Month of Fasting

Ramadan Countdown 2027

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★ Ramadan has started or passed. May Allah accept your fasting and prayers! ★

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar and the holiest month in Islam. It is during Ramadan that the Quran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Muslims worldwide fast from before dawn (Fajr) to after sunset (Maghrib) every day throughout the month, refraining from food, drink, smoking, and marital relations. Fasting in Ramadan is the third of the Five Pillars of Islam.

The Rewards of Ramadan

The Prophet ﷺ said: “When Ramadan begins, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed, and the devils are chained.” (Sahih al-Bukhari). He also said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih al-Bukhari). The reward of every good deed is multiplied in Ramadan, making it the greatest opportunity for spiritual advancement in the Islamic year.

When Does Ramadan 2026 Start?

Ramadan 2026 begins on the 1st of Ramadan 1447 AH. Because Ramadan starts with the sighting of the crescent moon, the exact Gregorian date varies by country and year. The countdown above fetches the date from the Aladhan API automatically. In 2026, Ramadan is expected to begin in late February or early March, approximately 11 days earlier than the previous year.

The Five Pillars of Ramadan

Ramadan is built on five core practices: Sawm (fasting from Fajr to Maghrib daily), increased recitation of the Quran (with the goal of completing it at least once), nightly Tarawih prayers (20 or 8 rak‘ahs offered in congregation after Isha), Iʼtikaaf (spiritual seclusion in the mosque during the last 10 nights), and the search for Laylat al-Qadr — the Night of Power in the last 10 odd nights of Ramadan.

Laylat al-Qadr: The Night of Power

Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree / Power) is described in the Quran as “better than a thousand months” (Quran 97:3). It falls in one of the odd nights of the last 10 days of Ramadan (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, or 29th). Worship on this single night surpasses the worship of over 83 years. The Shab-e-Qadr countdown on our site specifically tracks the likely night of the 27th Ramadan, which many scholars consider the most probable night for Laylat al-Qadr.

Suhoor, Iftar, and Tarawih

Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal eaten before Fajr adhan. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Eat suhoor for indeed there is a blessing in suhoor.” (Sahih al-Bukhari). Iftar is the meal at sunset used to break the fast, traditionally with dates and water following the Prophet’s Sunnah. Tarawih are the special nightly prayers of Ramadan, performed after Isha, during which the Quran is recited in its entirety over the course of the month.

Daily Fasting (Sawm)
Tarawih Prayer
Quran Recitation
Suhoor & Iftar
Laylat al-Qadr
Iʼtikaaf & Charity

Frequently Asked Questions

Ramadan 2026 (1st Ramadan 1447 AH) is expected to begin on approximately 18 February 2026, subject to moon sighting. The countdown above fetches the exact date from the Aladhan API automatically.
Ramadan is 29 or 30 days long, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon marking the start of Shawwal. Muslims fast every day of Ramadan, from before Fajr (dawn) to Maghrib (sunset).
The following are exempt from fasting: children (pre-puberty), the elderly who are unable to fast, the chronically ill for whom fasting causes harm, pregnant and breastfeeding women (if fasting harms them or their child), travellers, and women who are menstruating or in postpartum bleeding. Missed fasts must be made up (qadaʼ) later, or fidyah (feeding the poor) paid if unable.
The fast is broken by intentional eating, drinking, smoking, sexual intercourse, or anything introduced to the body through the primary orifices with nutritional intent. Unintentional eating (forgetting one is fasting), using inhalers for medical need, or swallowing saliva does not break the fast.
Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power/Decree) is the night the Quran was first revealed. The Quran says it is “better than a thousand months” (97:3). It falls in the odd nights of the last 10 days of Ramadan. Worship on this night is equivalent to over 83 years of worship.
Date accuracy: The Aladhan API is queried on your first visit and again only on the 29th of the Islamic month after 7:00 PM (crescent moon sighting window). Results are cached per Hijri year. Dates may vary ±1–2 days depending on local moon sighting. IslamicDate.today