What is Ramadan?
Answer
The Islamic holy month of fasting from sunrise to sunset
Explanation
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn until sunset as an act of worship, self-discipline, and spiritual reflection.
Fasting during Ramadan, known as Sawm, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, the core religious obligations that define Muslim practice. The other four are the declaration of faith (Shahada), daily prayer (Salah), charitable giving (Zakat), and pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj). Healthy adult Muslims are expected to abstain from food, drink, smoking, and sexual activity between the first light of dawn and sunset for the entire month. Those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, travelling, menstruating, ill, or very young or old are exempt, and many make up the fast later or give to charity in place of fasting.
The month follows the Islamic Hijri calendar, which is lunar, so Ramadan begins roughly eleven days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar used in the UK. In a British summer, fasts can run for eighteen hours or more, while in winter they may last only nine or ten hours. The fast is broken each evening with a meal called Iftar, traditionally opened by eating a date and drinking water, following the example of the Prophet Muhammad. A pre-dawn meal, Suhoor, is taken before the fast begins again. Taraweeh prayers are performed at night, often at the local mosque, and many Muslims aim to complete a full reading of the Qur'an during the month.
The last ten nights of Ramadan are regarded as especially sacred. Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power, falls on one of the odd-numbered nights in this period and marks the occasion when the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, a three-day festival of prayer, feasting, gift-giving, and visiting family.
In the United Kingdom, Ramadan is observed by an estimated four million Muslims, making it one of the largest faith observances in the country. Many workplaces and schools accommodate fasting staff and students with flexible hours, prayer space, and awareness of the demands of the month. Community Iftars are often held at mosques and increasingly in town halls, civic centres, and places of worship from other faiths, reflecting the place Ramadan has come to hold in British public life.
Why this matters for your test
Life in the UK candidates are expected to recognise Ramadan as a major religious observance of one of Britain's largest faith communities. Understanding its meaning, its timing on the lunar calendar, and its connection to the Five Pillars of Islam helps explain the cultural and civic accommodations that shape daily life in modern Britain.
Source: Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents (2023)
