Alhamdulillah! The blessed month of Ramadan upon us once again! For Muslims across the globe, these few weeks are a sacred time for worshipping Allah (SWT). They offer an opportunity for devotion, reflection and celebration of the mercy and love of Allah (SWT).
As the Islamic calendar is based around the lunar cycle, the Holy month of Ramadan rotates by approximately ten days each year. This year, Ramadan is expected to begin on Wednesday 22nd March 2023, depending on the sighting of the moon.
“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (pious, God-fearing).” (2:183)
The Following Ramadan timetable indicates the prayer times for Dublin. The start and end dates of Ramadan vary depending upon the sighting of the moon.
| Month | Date | Ramadan | Fajr | Dhuhr | Asr | Maghrib/Iftar | Isha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 23 | 1 | 4:42 | 12:34 | 15:52 | 18:45 | 20:16 |
| 24 | 2 | 4:39 | 12:34 | 15:53 | 18:46 | 20:18 | |
| 25 | 3 | 4:37 | 13:33 | 15:54 | 18:48 | 20:20 | |
| 26 | 4 | 5:34 | 13:33 | 16:55 | 19:50 | 21:22 | |
| 27 | 5 | 5:32 | 13:33 | 16:57 | 19:52 | 21:24 | |
| 28 | 6 | 5:29 | 13:32 | 16:58 | 19:54 | 21:26 | |
| 29 | 7 | 5:27 | 13:32 | 16:59 | 19:55 | 21:28 | |
| 30 | 8 | 5:24 | 13:32 | 17:00 | 19:57 | 21:29 | |
| 31 | 9 | 5:22 | 13:32 | 17:01 | 19:59 | 21:31 | |
| April | 1 | 10 | 5:19 | 13:31 | 17:02 | 20:01 | 21:33 |
| 2 | 11 | 5:17 | 13:31 | 17:03 | 20:03 | 21:35 | |
| 3 | 12 | 5:14 | 13:31 | 17:04 | 20:04 | 21:37 | |
| 4 | 13 | 5:11 | 13:30 | 17:05 | 20:06 | 21:39 | |
| 5 | 14 | 5:09 | 13:30 | 17:05 | 20:08 | 21:41 | |
| 6 | 15 | 5:06 | 13:30 | 17:06 | 20:10 | 21:43 | |
| 7 | 16 | 5:04 | 13:29 | 17:07 | 20:12 | 21:45 | |
| 8 | 17 | 5:01 | 13:29 | 17:08 | 20:13 | 21:47 | |
| 9 | 18 | 4:59 | 13:29 | 17:09 | 20:15 | 21:49 | |
| 10 | 19 | 4:56 | 13:28 | 17:10 | 20:17 | 21:51 | |
| 11 | 20 | 4:53 | 13:28 | 17:11 | 20:19 | 21:53 | |
| 12 | 21 | 4:51 | 13:28 | 17:12 | 20:21 | 21:55 | |
| 13 | 22 | 4:48 | 13:28 | 17:13 | 20:22 | 21:57 | |
| 14 | 23 | 4:46 | 13:27 | 17:14 | 20:24 | 21:59 | |
| 15 | 24 | 4:43 | 13:27 | 17:14 | 20:26 | 22:01 | |
| 16 | 25 | 4:40 | 13:27 | 17:15 | 20:28 | 22:03 | |
| 17 | 26 | 4:38 | 13:27 | 17:16 | 20:30 | 22:05 | |
| 18 | 27 | 4:35 | 13:26 | 17:17 | 20:31 | 22:07 | |
| 19 | 28 | 4:33 | 13:26 | 17:18 | 20:33 | 22:09 | |
| 20 | 29 | 4:30 | 13:26 | 17:19 | 20:35 | 22:11 | |
| 21 | 30 | 4:28 | 13:26 | 17:19 | 20:37 | 22:13 |
The Fourth Pillar of Islam is Sawm, or fasting. Fasting takes place during the month of Ramadan, which is a holy month in the Islamic calendar (lunar calendar).
The month of Ramadan contains the most blessed of nights, also known as Laylatul Qadr, about which Allah (SWT) asks us:
“What will make you realise what the Night of Power is like?
The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.
Angels and the Spirit descend upon it with their Lord´s permission with every command;
There is peace that night until the coming of dawn.” [Quran: 97:1-5]
As the Islamic calendar is based around the lunar cycle, the Holy month of Ramadan rotates by approximately ten days each year. Ramadan officially begins when the month of Shaban, the eighth month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar, ends. This year, the holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin on Wednesday 22nd March 2023. The exact timing is based on the sighting of the moon.
Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim celebration officially marks the end of Ramadan. The exact timing is based on the sighting of the moon. Eid al-Fitr officially begins at the start of the Islamic month of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar. This year, Ramadan is expected to end on Friday 21st of April 2023, depending on the sighting of the moon.
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar.
Healthy adult Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan from dawn until dusk. This includes abstaining from drinking, eating, immoral acts and anger. Other acts of worship such as prayer, reading the Quran and charity are also encouraged during the holy month.
As the Islamic calendar is based around the lunar cycle, the Holy month of Ramadan rotates by approximately ten days each year. This year, Ramadan is expected to begin on Wednesday 22nd March 2023, and end on Friday 21st April 2023, depending on the sighting of the moon.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the blessed month of Ramadan.
This year (2023) Eid al-Fitr is expected to be celebrated on the evening of Saturday 22nd April 2023. However, the exact date is subject to the sighting of the moon of Shawwal (the 10th month of the Islamic Calendar).