When is the start of Ramadan 2025?

In just a few days times, millions of people around the world will be going 30 days without eating or drinking during daylight hours. This will be for Ramadan, the ninth month of the of the Islamic calendar and a very important time for Muslims.

Muslims worldwide will be fasting, praying, and giving to charity to commemorate the occasion which ends with a large prayer and celebration. However, unlike other religious holidays, Ramadan doesn't start on the same day each year.

This is because the Islamic calendar follows the moon's cycle. And what can be even more confusing is that different groups might give slightly different dates for when Ramadan starts, based on local customs, traditions, and predictions of the moon's cycle.

A majority of communities and sects rely on the moon sighting committee in Saudi Arabia to determine when Ramadan begins. This is because the they use a special equipment to track the moon's cycle.

Ramadan begins when the crescent moon lines up with the astronomical new moon. At the moment, it looks most likely that Ramadan 2025 will start on either Saturday, 1 March or Sunday, March 2. If you're not sure which date to start observing Ramadan, you could try watching the moon yourself, or you could ask your local imam who should be able to give you a verdict.

Traditionally, Muslims start their day at sunset, not sunrise. So, they will begin fasting just before the Fajr prayer in the early morning as the sun comes up.

According to the Islamic Relief, Fajr prayer will start at 5.16am on March 1 and 5.14am on March 2 in Manchester. Remember, prayer times can change depending on where you live. So, always check with your local mosque to find out when Fajr will start during Ramadan.