The holy month of Ramadan is almost upon us, with Muslims around the world preparing to observe the fast which characterises the festival. A gruelling process at the best of times, the prolonged period of abstinence can also be confusing because fasting times are based on sunrise and sunset, and so change each day as Ramadan progresses.
This means that this year's fasting period will get longer each day, with the days gradually lengthening as summer approaches.
Here are the key dates and a guide to fasting times for worshippers around the UK throughout the holy month.
When does Ramadan 2022 start?
Like other Muslim festivals, the festival of Ramadan is based on the lunar calendar, which means its position in the more widely used Gregorian calendar moves slightly.
As the charity Muslim Aid explains: "The Islamic calendar follows the phases of the moon, commonly known as the lunar cycle. As a result, the Holy month of Ramadan falls approximately 10 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar."
The month begins with the sighting of the crescent moon, which generally appears one night after the new moon.
This year, Ramadan is expected to start on Saturday 2 April, although it could come a day later if the moon isn't sighted.
It lasts between 29 and 30 days until the sighting of the next crescent moon marks the end of the holy month and the arrival of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar.
When are the Suhoor and Iftar?
During Ramadan, the Salat (daily prayers) take on increased significance, both because the holy month is considered a time of reflection and purification and also because they shape the hours of the fast.
The Salat
Fajr: observed before sunrise
Zuhr: observed afternoon
Asr: observed in the late afternoon
Maghrib: observed after sunset
Isha: observed at night
Every day of Ramadan, Muslims eat the pre-fast meal called the Sahoor, which is taken before sunrise and culminates with the day's first prayer, the Fajr. The fast isn't broken until sunset with the Iftar meal, which precedes the Maghrib, the fourth prayer of the day.
Because the days will gradually increase in length, the fasting period becomes progressively more challenging as worshippers near the end of the holy month, and the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.
But while the fast will be almost two hours longer at the end of this year's Ramadan than its first day, there is the consolation that it falls almost two weeks earlier than last year's festival, with shorter days as a result.
Ramadan 2022 timetable for the UK
Both the Central London Mosque and the East London Mosque have compiled Ramadan timetables, which give worshippers in the capital all the information they need to observe the fast correctly.
Here are the key timings day-by-day for Fajr and Maghrib — when the fast begins and ends — in London for the Muslim holy month.
The start and end dates are contingent on the moon sighting which signifies when Ramadan begins, which was this year expected to be Monday 12 April, while the timings apply to London:
Because of the varying times of sunrise and sunset across the rest of the UK, it must be noted that there are variations in timing depending on location.
Fortunately, the charity Muslim Hands offers the following helpful guide to adjust the fasting timetable to apply to where you are:
UK variations relative to London (Time Fast Begins, Time Fast Ends)
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and marks the time when the Quran is said to have been revealed to Prophet Muhammad by God with a month-long fast.
Muslims are required to spend 30 days abstaining from food and drink, including water, during daylight hours, as a means of celebrating and reflecting on their faith.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam - the fundamental rules that all Muslims follow - along with the Shahadah (declaration of faith), Salat (prayer), Zakat (charity) and the Hajj pilgrimage.
During Ramadan, there is an increased offering of the Salat, with Muslims giving thanks to Allah, while the fasting ritual allows them to understand the suffering of others. During this holy month, many Muslims perform Umrah with the best Ramadan Umrah Package.
Those observing the fast are encouraged to read the Quran and the holy text is recited at the Tarawih, special nightly prayers that are held throughout the month.
Ramadan literally means "scorching heat" in Arabic, and marks the month when the Quran is said to have been revealed to Prophet Muhammad by God via the archangel Gabriel in 610 AD.
When is Eid al-Fitr 2022?
Ramadan is expected to end on Sunday 1 May, which would mean Eid al-Fitr follows on Sunday 2 May.
Eid al-Fitr's name comes from an Arabic term that translates as the "feast of breaking the fast" and, although not a public holiday in the UK, it is in many Muslim countries.
In normal years, it is traditional for Muslims to gather together in a park to celebrate breaking their fast, with large-scale events and festival food (particularly sweet treats), prayer and stalls.
After Eid, some Muslims decide to fast for the six days that follow. This stems from the Islamic belief that a good deed in Islam is rewarded 10 times, thus fasting for 30 days during Ramadan and six days during Shawwal creates a year's worth of goodwill.
