Fasting (Ramadan)

1. Introduction to Fasting / Ramadan
2. Ramadan: Overview
3. Full details of Fasting from Quran: Chapter 2:183-187
4. Ramadan : Reflections on Fasting
5. Religious Duties: A Gift From God: Fasting (Ramadan)
6. Spiritual Benefits of Fasting: Ramadan, A Gift of Rememberance
7. Misunderstandings and Violations in Ramadan
8. The Night of Destiny
9. Medical Benefits of Ramadan
10. Ramadan and Thanksgiving
11. Blessings of Ramadan
12. Night of Destiny
13. Ramadan: The Month the Quran was Revealed
14. Ramadan: Fasting to Enrich our souls
15. Blessed is the Month of Ramadan
16. Other Ramadan Links (including e-cards)

Ramadan 2008

August 31– September 29 (American Continents only)

September 1– September 29 (Rest of the World)

God willing Ramadan begins on August 31, 2008 and ends on September 29, 2008 for North, Central and South America. However Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, and Australia start on September 1. The Night of Destiny (Night of Power) will be on September 25, 2008 for the Americas, God willing. It will be one day later (September 26, 2008) for the rest of the world.

The new moon times to be used for determining the beginning and ending of Ramadan are given below for UT (Universal time) – also called GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).

7:58 p.m. on August 30, 2008 (UT/GMT)

8:12 a.m. on September 29, 2008 (UT/GMT)

The information reported is based on data from the U.S. Naval Observatory, Astronomical Applications Department.

The actual time for each time zone is relative to UT.

To calculate the Ramadan start date, compare the time of the New Moon with the Sunset in your location. If the new moon is born before sunset, you should fast the next day God willing. *

Similarly to determine the last day of fasting, compare the time of the next New Moon with the sunset in your location. If the new moon is born before sunset, the month of Ramadan is complete on that day.

More details on Ramadan including information about why the calculation is done as above (i.e., the beginning of the day is at sunset) is available in an article on Ramadan. Other Ramadan articles are linked at the top of this page.

Phases of the moon data (including the new moon) for 2007 and up are available at the US Naval Observatory. All times are in UT. To convert to your time zone you can use the Time Zone Converter.

* For the year 2008 or other years and for your specific location you can visit theUSNO Sun/Moon daily data page. Calculate the information for the date you are interested. Compare the time of sunset with the time for the new moon (in local time).