Ramadan

رمضان Ramadan
A crescent moon can be seen over palm trees at sunset in Manama, marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Ramadan in Bahrain
Observed by	Muslims
Type	Religious
Celebrations	Community iftars and Community prayers
Observances	sawm (fasting) zakat and sadaqah (alms giving) taraweeh prayer reading the Quran abstaining from all bad deeds and staying humble
Begins	1 Ramadan
Ends	29, or 30 Ramadan
Date	Variable (follows the Islamic lunar calendar)
2016 date	6 June – 5 July (Umm al-Qura)
2017 date	27 May – 24 June
2018 date	16 May – 14 June
Frequency	every 12 moons (lunar months)
Related to	Eid al-Fitr, Laylat al-Qadr

Ramadan (/ˌræməˈdɑːn/; Arabic: رمضان‎‎ Ramaḍān, IPA: [ramaˈdˤaːn]; also romanized as Ramazan, Ramadhan, or Ramathan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (Sawm) to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad according to Islamic belief. This annual observance is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The month lasts 29–30 days based on the visual sightings of the crescent moon, according to numerous biographical accounts compiled in the hadiths.

The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root ramiḍa or ar-ramaḍ, which means scorching heat or dryness. Fasting is fardh (obligatory) for adult Muslims, except those who are suffering from an illness, travelling, are elderly, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic or going through menstrual bleeding. Fasting the month of Ramadan was made obligatory (wājib) during the month of Sha'ban, in the second year after the Muslims migrated from Mecca to Medina. Fatwas have been issued declaring that Muslims who live in regions with a natural phenomenon such as the midnight sun or polar night should follow the timetable of Mecca.