Ramadan 2026: history, traditions, when it comes, what not to do

The holy month of Ramadan begins on the evening of February 17th after sunset. In 2026, the first day of lent will be on February 18. It will last until March 18 and will end with the Eid al-Adha holiday. During this period, Muslims will observe a number of restrictions, including strict fasting from dawn to dusk. Read about the meaning of the holiday, its traditions and prohibitions in the Izvestia article.

When is Ramadan coming in 2026

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Since the Muslim year is shorter than the Gregorian year by about 10-11 days, its beginning shifts annually. In 2026, it falls on the evening of February 17th after sunset. February 18 will be the first day of fasting, and the holy month will end with the Eid al-Fitr holiday after sunset on March 18, 2026.

The exact dates may vary slightly depending on the moon observations in a particular country.

Ramadan 2026: the history and spiritual meaning of the sacred tradition

The history of Ramadan developed gradually, starting from the pre-Islamic practices of abstinence in Arabia. Long before the advent of Islam, Arab tribes had the concept of "sacred months" — periods of truce when intertribal wars stopped and ritual practices, including fasting, were carried out.

According to the researchers, the idea of long-term abstinence existed in the region as a form of repentance and humility. Moreover, throughout the ancient Near East, monthly fasts were also known in other religious traditions, which formed the cultural background for the perception of such a practice in Arabia.

The key turning point came in 610 AD, when the Prophet Muhammad experienced the first revelation in the cave of Hira near Mecca — the revelation of the first verses of the Quran through the angel Jibril. This event is remembered on one of the nights of the month of Ramadan — Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power.

The Qur'an itself emphasizes that it was during Ramadan that the Scripture was revealed as a guide for people. However, during the Meccan period, when the community was small and persecuted, there was no mandatory monthly fasting in its current form, only some forms of it were practiced. The post was institutionalized after the Hijrah, the migration of the Muslim community from Mecca to Medina in 622, which marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

The holy month of Ramadan in 2026: what prayers should Muslims read?

At this time, Taraweeh is recited and the Koran is more often consulted.

In the Madinah period, around the 2nd year after the Hijrah (about 624), verses were revealed with the direct prescription of fasting. From that moment on, Ramadan became an obligatory pillar of religious practice.

The form of the post has also undergone refinements. In the early stages, the restrictions were stricter. For example, after a night's sleep, it was forbidden to eat until the next sunset. Later, the revelations specified the boundaries — believers were required to practice abstinence from dawn until nightfall. This is how the usual structure of the month was fixed – the pre-dawn meal (suhur), daytime fasting and evening prayer (iftar), traditionally starting with dates and water. In the era of the righteous caliphs, especially under Umar ibn al-Khattab, the practice of collective night prayer of Tarawih, which became a distinctive feature of Ramadan, was streamlined.

As the Islamic state expanded under the Umayyads and Abbasids, the month of fasting finally entered the public calendar. Nightlife intensified in the cities, special markets, culinary traditions and charitable practices dedicated to Ramadan were formed. In Cairo, during the Mamluk era, the tradition of the "Ramadan cannon" was established — a cannon shot at sunset served as a signal to speak. Different regions, from the Ottoman Empire to North Africa and South Asia, have developed their own cultural forms of celebration, but the central idea of monthly abstinence and nights of worship has remained unchanged.

Today, Ramadan is perceived not just as a period of abstinence, but as a time of internal revision, reassessment of one's own actions, intense prayer and conscious rejection of everything that can upset the spiritual balance. Believers try to turn to the Koran more often, pay attention to charity and control not only actions, but also words.

The Five Pillars of Islam are the basis of religious practice

In the Islamic tradition, there are five obligatory practices, pillars that are considered the basis of a Muslim's daily life. These include:

• Shahada is the recognition of monotheism and the prophetic mission of Muhammad, the formula of faith from which belonging to Islam begins.;
• Namaz (salat) — five prayers during the day. They are performed at strictly set hours and structure the believer's day.;
• Zakat is a mandatory share of property given to those who need support. And this is not about voluntary help, but about a religious obligation.;
• Saum is a fast in the month of Ramadan. It involves giving up food, water, and marital intimacy during the daytime, but it is not limited to this: a person is also required to control words and actions.;
• Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca. It is performed at least once in a lifetime, if health and means allow.

What not to do in Ramadan

In Islam, the restrictions of Ramadan are not limited to listing formal prohibitions. They are built stepwise — from physical abstinence to more complex inner work on oneself. Theologians conventionally speak of three levels of prohibitions. The first includes actions that invalidate fasting, the second includes actions that devalue its spiritual outcome, and the third includes behavior that does not directly violate the rules, but contradicts the very meaning of the month as a time of self—control and moral discipline.

What not to do in Ramadan: the main prohibitions of the holy month

The first level is strict prohibitions (from dawn to sunset):

• Eat and drink;
• getting intimate;
• intentionally induce vomiting;
• smoking, including hookah and electronic devices;
• chewing gum.

If the prohibition is violated consciously, the day of fasting must be completed. In the case of marital intimacy during the daytime, an additional measure of atonement is possible — 60 days of continuous fasting or feeding 60 people in need.

The second level is sinful actions:

• lies and slander;
• gossip and backbiting;
• aggressive behavior, insults, profanity;
• Engaging in obscene conversations;
• viewing explicit content.

The third level is undesirable behavior:

• overeating after sunset;
• Ostentatious luxury and waste;
• idleness;
• excessive entertainment.

The inadmissibility of intentionally postponing obligatory prayer is emphasized separately. Prayer is the second pillar of Islam, and its observance is obligatory during Ramadan. On the contrary, during this month, the liturgical practice increases — additional night prayers of Tarawih are performed, which emphasizes the special status of the period.

Under respectful circumstances, prayer is completed at the earliest opportunity.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions and significance of the Eid al-Adha holiday.