Every year, over 1.8 billion Muslims around the world observe Ramadan — the holiest month in Islam. Whether you are Muslim and want to deepen your understanding, or a neighbour, colleague, or friend curious about what your Muslim community is doing each year, this guide covers everything you need to know.
What Is Ramadan?
Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان) is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is the month in which the Quran — Islam's holy book — was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and Muslims observe it as a time of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.
The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root r-m-d, meaning intense heat or burning, which some scholars interpret as burning away sins through devotion and restraint.
During Ramadan, observant Muslims fast every day from the pre-dawn meal (Suhoor) until sunset, when the fast is broken with the evening meal (Iftar). The fast is not only about abstaining from food and drink — it also means refraining from smoking, sexual relations, and negative behaviours like gossip, anger, and unkind words.
When Is Ramadan?
Because Islam follows a lunar calendar, Ramadan begins approximately 10 to 11 days earlier each year by the Gregorian (solar) calendar.
- Ramadan 2026: approximately 18 February – 19 March 2026 (just concluded)
- Ramadan 2027: expected to begin around 7 February 2027
- Ramadan 2028: expected to begin around 27 January 2028
The precise start date is confirmed by the sighting of the crescent moon (hilal), which means it can vary by a day depending on location and weather. Some communities rely on astronomical calculation; others wait for the physical sighting of the moon.
How Long Is Ramadan?
Ramadan lasts either 29 or 30 days, again determined by the crescent moon. It ends when the new moon marking the beginning of Shawwal (the next Islamic month) is sighted. The day after Ramadan ends is Eid ul-Fitr, one of the two major Islamic celebrations.
What Are the Rules of Ramadan Fasting?
The fast (sawm) begins at Fajr (the dawn prayer) and ends at Maghrib (sunset). During that window, Muslims who are fasting must abstain from:
- Food of any kind
- Drink — including water
- Smoking
- Sexual relations
The fast is also intended to purify the soul, so Muslims are encouraged to avoid:
- Swearing, arguing, or losing their temper
- Gossiping or backbiting
- Idle or harmful speech
The idea is that if you are fasting from food, you should also fast from everything that diminishes your character.
Who Is Required to Fast?
Fasting is obligatory for every adult Muslim who is physically and mentally capable. However, Islam makes clear exemptions for those for whom fasting would cause genuine hardship or harm:
- Children who have not yet reached puberty are not required to fast (though many choose to practise partial fasting)
- The elderly who are unable to fast without risk to their health
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women if fasting poses a risk to them or their child
- The ill for whom fasting would worsen their condition
- Travellers on long journeys
- Women who are menstruating (they make up missed days later)
Those who are temporarily unable to fast (illness, travel, pregnancy) make up the missed days after Ramadan. Those who are permanently unable to fast may instead feed a person in need for each day missed, a practice called fidya.
What Is Suhoor?
Suhoor (also written Sehri or Suhur) is the pre-dawn meal eaten before the fast begins. Muslims wake before the Fajr prayer to eat and drink, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encouraged this meal even if it is just a sip of water.
The eating time ends at Imsak, just before the call to the Fajr prayer, and the fast officially begins at the time of Fajr. Many Muslims use prayer time apps or mosque timetables to know exactly when Suhoor ends each day, since it changes slightly as the days lengthen or shorten through the month.
What Is Iftar?
Iftar is the meal that breaks the fast at sunset, timed to the Maghrib prayer. The tradition, following the practice of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), is to break the fast with dates and water before a full meal.
Iftar is one of the most communal experiences in Islam. Families gather at home. Mosques host community Iftar events open to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Tables are set long-style, food is shared, and there is a warmth and generosity to these gatherings that is hard to describe if you have never been part of one.
At Warragul Mosque, we hosted community Iftar dinners during Ramadan 2026 that were open to the entire community — Muslim and non-Muslim. Over 150 people attended, including local families, community leaders, and neighbours from across Baw Baw Shire. If you have never broken a fast with a roomful of people who have been hungry since before dawn, there is something quietly moving about it.
What Is Taraweeh Prayer?
Beyond the five daily prayers that Muslims pray year-round, Ramadan adds a special nightly prayer called Taraweeh. Performed after the Isha (night) prayer, Taraweeh involves the imam leading the congregation through a portion of the Quran each night.
The goal across the 29 or 30 nights of Ramadan is to complete the entire Quran from beginning to end — all 114 chapters. This completion is called the Khatam al-Quran and is treated as a significant communal achievement.
In 2026, Warragul Mosque completed its first-ever Khatam — the full recitation of the Quran across the nights of Ramadan. For a community that not long ago had no local mosque and no local imam, this was a moment of deep significance.
What Is Laylat al-Qadr?
Laylat al-Qadr — translated as "the Night of Power" or "the Night of Decree" — is described in the Quran as a night better than a thousand months (Quran 97:3). It falls within the last ten nights of Ramadan, and most Muslims believe it is the 27th night, though the exact night is not definitively known.
It commemorates the night the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the Cave of Hira, near Mecca. Muslims spend this night in extended prayer, supplication, and Quran recitation, seeking forgiveness and closeness to God. Mosques are typically full through the night.
What Is Zakat ul-Fitr?
Before the Eid ul-Fitr prayer that marks the end of Ramadan, every Muslim who is able to is required to give a small amount of food or its monetary equivalent to those in need. This is called Zakat ul-Fitr (or Fitrana).
It ensures that even the poorest members of the community have something to celebrate Eid with, and it must be given before the Eid prayer to count. In Australia the amount is typically calculated as around $10–15 per person in the household.
How Does Ramadan End?
Ramadan ends with the sighting of the crescent moon that begins the new month of Shawwal. The following day is Eid ul-Fitr — the "Festival of Breaking the Fast" — one of the most joyous days in the Islamic calendar.
Eid ul-Fitr begins with a special morning prayer, held at the mosque or a large outdoor space. After the prayer and a short sermon, families visit each other, give gifts to children, share large meals, and celebrate together. It is often described as the Islamic equivalent of Christmas morning in terms of the atmosphere of joy and anticipation — particularly for children.
Can Non-Muslims Participate in Ramadan?
Non-Muslims are always welcome to:
- Attend Iftar dinners at mosques and community centres
- Observe Taraweeh prayers as respectful guests
- Try fasting for a day — many non-Muslims choose to fast in solidarity with Muslim friends or colleagues, often describing it as one of the most interesting experiences they have had
- Wish Muslim friends a good Ramadan — "Ramadan Kareem" (Generous Ramadan) or "Ramadan Mubarak" (Blessed Ramadan) are both warmly received greetings
Sharing in the spirit of Ramadan — generosity, reflection, and community — is something that transcends religion.
Ramadan at Warragul Mosque
For the Muslim community of Baw Baw Shire, Ramadan before the mosque existed was a mostly private affair. There was no local Iftar, no Taraweeh, no community to observe the month with. People fasted quietly at home or drove hours to Melbourne for any sense of communal Ramadan.
Since Warragul Mosque opened, that has changed entirely.
Community Iftar dinners are now a regular part of the Warragul calendar, open to the whole town. Taraweeh prayers are held every night of Ramadan. The 2026 Ramadan saw the completion of our first Khatam — the full recitation of the Quran. Children who grew up without a local mosque are now part of those moments.
If you would like to attend an Iftar dinner next Ramadan, be part of Taraweeh, or simply learn more about how the community observes the month, we would love to welcome you.
Warragul Mosque 72 Victoria Street, Warragul VIC 3820 Every Friday: Jummah prayer at 1:30 PM — all welcome Email: hello@binai.org.au · Phone: 0457 643 672
Warragul Mosque is the only mosque in Baw Baw Shire and the first permanent Islamic centre in the region. It is run entirely by volunteers and funded by community donations.
Learn about the two Eid celebrations at the end of Ramadan · Visit us for Friday Jummah prayer
Support Warragul Mosque
Building this mosque — and keeping it running for daily prayers, Ramadan events, Quran classes, and community gatherings — relies entirely on the generosity of people who believe this community deserves a permanent home.
Every dollar goes directly toward the mosque: the lease, the imam, the utilities, the programs, and the long-term goal of a purpose-built permanent facility in Warragul.
If Ramadan means anything to you — whether you are Muslim or simply someone who values community — consider making a contribution.
Operated by BawBaw Islamic Network Australia Inc. (BINAI), a registered charity in Victoria, Australia. ABN: 16 723 284 175.