When is Ramadan 2027?
Ramadan 2027 (1448 AH) is expected to begin on Monday, February 8, 2027, with the crescent moon sought on the evening of Sunday, February 7 (the 29th of Sha'ban). If the crescent is not sighted, Sha'ban completes thirty days and fasting begins on Tuesday, February 9 instead. The month lasts 29 or 30 days, so Eid al-Fitr is expected on Tuesday, March 9, or Wednesday, March 10, 2027. Countries that rely on local moon-sighting committees, such as Pakistan and India, sometimes start a day after the Gulf states.
How the daily fast works
Each day, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset: no food, no drink, and no smoking during daylight hours. The day has two anchor meals:
- Sehri (suhoor): the pre-dawn meal, eaten before the Fajr prayer. Many scholars advise finishing a few minutes before the calculated Fajr time (imsak).
- Iftar: the meal that breaks the fast, eaten just after the Maghrib prayer at sunset. It traditionally begins with dates and water, following the practice of the Prophet Muhammad.
The fast is not only about food: Muslims also aim to avoid gossip, anger and bad habits, and to increase charity, Quran reading and prayer.
Nights of Ramadan
After the Isha prayer, many Muslims attend taraweeh, special congregational night prayers during which the Quran is recited in full over the month in many mosques. The last ten nights are especially significant: they hold Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Decree, believed to be the night the Quran was first revealed. Many spend these nights in extra worship seeking it.
Eid al-Fitr
Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Breaking the Fast: communal morning prayers, feasts, new clothes and visiting family. Before the Eid prayer, Muslims give Zakat al-Fitr, a charitable donation of food or money, so that everyone can share in the celebration.
Why the dates move each year
The Islamic calendar is lunar (about 354 days), so Ramadan begins roughly 11 days earlier each Gregorian year, cycling through all seasons over about 33 years. In 2027 it falls in late winter, which means shorter fasting days in the Northern Hemisphere than the long summer fasts of the mid-2010s.
For non-Muslims
A few simple courtesies go a long way: avoid scheduling working lunches with fasting colleagues if you can, be understanding about lower energy in the late afternoon, and know that a simple Ramadan Mubarak (blessed Ramadan) greeting is always welcome. You do not need to fast yourself, and most Muslims do not expect you to.