Ramadan 2025: the beginning and the end, how to fast, what not to do

Ramadan: how to fast in the holy month

Fasting in Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is associated with the year 610 according to the Christian calendar, when the Prophet Muhammad began to receive revelations from Allah and the Koran appeared. It happened during Ramadan. Both the month of lent and Eid al-Adha is a celebration at the end of Ramadan that lasts for three days.

By the end of the fast, believers begin to prepare in advance — they clean the house, prepare festive meals and the best clothes. Giving alms is considered part of the rituals during lent. This compensates for mistakes that a person may have made during the month.

During Ramadan, it is necessary to abstain from food and water throughout the day. According to the Quran, eating is possible only after it becomes so dark that it becomes impossible to distinguish a black thread from a white one. Smoking is also prohibited, as well as intimacy. The essence of fasting is to dedicate your thoughts to Allah. During Ramadan, believers also perform the minor hajj to Mecca and Medina whenever possible.

What not to do in Ramadan

In the Muslim world, there are concepts of "suhur" and "iftar." Suhoor is the first meal that takes place before the first signs of dawn, when the dawn is not yet visible. Iftar is the second and last meal. Dinner should be served after evening prayers, when the sun has disappeared below the horizon.

Relaxation is possible only during illness, traveling, for pregnant women and in some other cases. Children under the age of seven are also not required to fast during the month of Ramadan.

"I had a case when I was working as a translator at an aviation military base in Egypt. By the decision of the Muslim clergy, it was allowed in the army not to observe fasting. And in aviation, it could not be observed — it was necessary to eat. But the two lieutenants flatly refused to break the fast. The guys were suspended from flights, and the Egyptian Deputy Defense minister himself came to persuade them to eat," Malashenko shared.

Malashenko stressed that there are many more adherents of fasting among Muslims than there are followers of Great Lent among Christians.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the prayer schedule in the holy month href="https://iz.ru/1844271/2025-02-26/vrema-namaza-molitvy-na-suhur-i-iftar-v-svasennyi-mesac-ramadan-v-2025-godu " target="_blank">Ramadan.