This week marks the beginning of Ramadan, the holiest month of the year for Muslims.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, refraining from food and drink.
There are more than 800,000 Muslims in Australia, according to the latest Census.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the Quran, Islam’s holy book, to the Prophet Muhammad.
Muslims abstain from food and drink (including water) during daylight hours.
Before the sun rises, Muslims pray, and eat a meal called Suhur (or Suhoor). They break their fast in the evening with Iftar.
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Children, the elderly, the sick, and women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or menstruating are exempt from fasting.
Starting date
The exact start of Ramadan changes each year, based on the cycles of the moon.
While some Muslim communities use astronomical calculations to predict the date, others rely on a visual confirmation of the crescent moon in the sky.
Ramadan moves 10–12 days earlier each year, meaning it falls in every season over a 33-year cycle.
For Muslims in Australia, this means fasting days have been increasingly long in recent years, as the holy month shifts into summer.
