The holy month of Ramadan in 2025: dates, strict prohibitions on what Muslims can eat

On Friday, February 28, Muslims all over the world begin the holy month of Ramadan. During this period, believers observe strict fasting, pray and do good deeds. Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, or Eid al-Adha, which is one of the two most important holidays for Muslims and is celebrated with joy and gratitude for the end of the fast. What is the essence of the holiday, what is prescribed and forbidden for believers to do during this period — in the material of Izvestia.

Ramadan: the beginning and end of the Muslim calendar in 2025

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, which is considered sacred by all Muslims. It is a time of fasting, prayer, self-purification, and intense worship of Allah.

Muslims determine the beginning and end of Ramadan according to the Islamic lunar calendar, which is based on the changing phases of the Earth's natural satellite. Traditionally, the beginning of the month of Ramadan is considered the moment when the new moon (hilal) appears in the sky after the new moon. This process is called ru'yat al-hilal — "moon observation".

The determination of the date may vary depending on the method of observation. In classical Islam, the beginning of Ramadan is announced after the appearance of a thin crescent moon is visually confirmed. This is done by special observers, scholars or Islamic councils in different countries. However, in the modern world, many Muslim communities also use astronomical calculations that predict the appearance of the moon with high accuracy.

Similarly, the end of Ramadan is determined — on the 29th day of the month in the evening, Muslims again observe the firmament. If the new moon is visible, the fast ends, and Eid al-Fitr (Eid al-Adha) is celebrated the next day. If the Moon is not visible, for example, because of clouds, then Ramadan lasts 30 days, and the holiday is postponed to the next day.

In 2025, Ramadan will begin on the first of the month of Ramadan in 1446 according to the Muslim calendar and will end on the 30th of the same month. According to the Gregorian calendar, this corresponds to the evening of February 28 (beginning) and March 30 (end).

The history of the holy month of Ramadan dates back to the 7th century, when the Islamic religion was formed under the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad. According to Muslim tradition, it was in this month that the prophet received the first revelation from Allah through the angel Muqarrabun Jibril (archangel Gabriel). This event is considered the beginning of the revelation of the Quran, the holy scripture of Muslims.

For the first time, the obligation of fasting in Ramadan was established in the second year of Hijri (622 A.D.), when the Prophet Muhammad and his followers migrated from Mecca to Medina. The Quran says that fasting in this month is prescribed for every believer who has reached adulthood, with the exception of the sick, travelers, pregnant and lactating women, as well as those who are unable to observe it for legitimate reasons.

The history of Ramadan in Russia dates back more than a thousand years, starting with the adoption of Islam by Volga Bulgaria in 922. The large–scale spread of the traditions of fasting occurred after the Muslim regions became part of the Russian state in the XVI-XIX centuries. Nadezhda Kapustina, Professor of the Department of Economic Security and Risk Management at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, told Izvestia about this.

— A unique feature of the Russian Ramadan is its holding in different seasons of the year. In 2025, the fast will take place in the spring, when the daylight hours are 11-12 hours. For comparison, in 2015, Ramadan fell in June-July, and daylight hours reached 19 hours in the northern regions of the country, the expert concluded.

The meaning of fasting is not only to abstain from food and water during daylight hours, but also to purify oneself spiritually, to abstain from bad thoughts, profanity, malice, and other sinful acts. Fasting during Ramadan reminds believers of the need for self-discipline, compassion for those in need, and strengthening the bond with Allah.

This holy month has become an integral part of the Islamic tradition, contributing to the strengthening of faith and spiritual development of millions of Muslims around the world.

Schedule of the Ramadan Tent in 2025

From February 28 to March 30, during the holy month of Ramadan, the 20th anniversary "Ramadan Tent" will be held in Moscow. At sunset, everyone is invited to share an iftar dinner, listen to performances and creative performances of professional national teams from the stage.The events will start around 17:00 daily and take place in the parking lot at the Memorial Mosque on Poklonnaya Gora at 2B Minskaya Street.

This annual cultural and charitable project is organized by the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Moscow with the support of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation and the Government of Moscow. This year, about ten countries will join the event, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, the CIS countries, as well as various regions of Russia.

Among the invited guests are representatives of all official religious denominations, employees of the presidential administration, senators, deputies of the State Duma, as well as distinguished guests from abroad.

In addition, famous scientists, cultural figures, entrepreneurs and athletes are expected to participate. During the month, the Ramadan Tent plans to host over 45,000 people.

In 2025, the cultural and educational program of the Ramadan Tent will be dedicated to the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War and will be held under the symbolic motto "Memory is stronger than time". Within the framework of the event, charitable initiatives are planned to support the participants of the SVO and their families.

The Ramadan Tent project aims to organize charity iftars (conversations) throughout the holy month. In addition to dinners held directly in the tent, more than 1.2 thousand iftar boxes will be distributed daily on the streets of the city. In addition, thanks to the Feed the Fasting initiative implemented by the Zakat Foundation, over 1,000 people will be able to receive a free dinner every day in the religious communities of the capital.

What not to do in the holy month of Ramadan

During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims observe strict fasting (saum) and strive for spiritual purification, refraining from any actions that may disrupt or devalue this period. The main prohibitions relate to both physical actions and the moral and spiritual aspects of life.

It is forbidden to eat or drink during daylight hours. This is one of the main rules of fasting, which is valid from dawn to dusk. After sunset, it is allowed to have a conversation (iftar), and before the morning prayer, a pre-dawn meal (suhur) is served.

During the holy month of Ramadan, smoking, chewing gum and the use of any substances that enter the body through the mouth or respiratory tract are strictly prohibited. During fasting, one should refrain from sexual relations, as well as from any manifestations of passion and lust.

Any deliberate ingestion of substances into the body is considered a violation of fasting. Rudeness, profanity, slander, lies and backbiting are prohibited. Muslims should control their speech, and avoid gossip, insults, and quarrels.

You should not indulge in anger, aggression and evil thoughts. During Ramadan, it is important to remain patient, friendly, and strive for inner peace.

It is forbidden to skip obligatory prayers (namaz). During this month, Muslims try to perform additional prayers, including tarawih, a special night prayer recited only during Ramadan.

The prayer that is recited at the morning meal:

نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أَصُومَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ إِلَى الْمَغْرِبِ خَالِصًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

(Translation: "I intend to keep the fast of the month of Ramadan from dawn to dusk sincerely for the sake of Allah.")

Prayer, which is read after the evening breaking of the fast:

اَللَّهُمَّ لَكَ صُمْتُ وَبِكَ أَمَنْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ
فَاغْفِرْ لِى مَا يَا غَفَّارُ قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ

(Translation: "O Allah, for Your sake I have fasted, believed in You, relied on You, and talked about Your food. O Forgiving One, forgive me the sins that I have committed or will commit.")

In addition, there are prayers for every day of the month of Ramadan. It is recommended to read them each on its own day, for example, in the morning, immediately after sunrise.

So, on the first day of fasting, the following prayer is read:

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ صِيَامِى فِيهِ صِيَامَ الصَّائِمِينَ وَ قِيَامِى فِيهِ قِيَامَ الْقَائِمِينَ وَ نَبِّهْنِى فِيهِ عَنْ نَوْمَةِ الْغَافِلِينَ وَ هَبْ لِى جُرْمِى فِيهِ يَا إِلَهَ الْعَالَمِينَ وَ اعْفُ عَنِّى يَا عَافِيا عَنِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ

(Translation: "O Allah! Make my fast this month one of the real fasts, and my prayer one of the real prayers. And awaken me this month from the sleep of carelessness and carelessness. And forgive me my trespasses, O You who forgive the trespasses of Your servants.")

And on the last day of Ramadan, such a prayer is provided.:

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ صِيَامِى فِيهِ بِالشُّكْرِ وَ الْقَبُولِ عَلَى مَا تَرْضَاهُ وَ يَرْضَاهُ الرَّسُولُ مُحْكَمَةً فُرُوعُهُ بِالْأُصُولِ بِحَقِّ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ الطَّاهِرِينَ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

(Translation: "O Allah! Make my fast on this day one that You and Your Messenger are pleased with, through gratitude and acceptance, so that its precepts are supported by the foundations, the right of our Lord Muhammad and his most pure family. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!")

You can read prayers in any language. The main thing is a sincere desire for spiritual self—improvement and purification. The texts of Ramadan prayers by day can be found in special collections and on popular online resources.

One should not indulge in excess and idleness. Ramadan is a time of spiritual perfection, so Muslims spend it in prayer, reading the Koran and reflecting on faith.

During Ramadan, it is important not to deny help to those in need. Charity (sadaqa) is one of the key activities this month. Those who cannot fast for valid reasons (illness, pregnancy, hard work) are obliged to feed the poor or pay atonement (fidya). Observing all these rules helps Muslims to get closer to Allah, purify their soul and strengthen their faith.

What to do and what to eat during Ramadan

Ramadan is considered the month of the revelation of the Quran, and therefore Muslims try to read the holy book completely during this time. The month carries a deep spiritual meaning, it reminds of compassion, mercy and the need to help those in need.

During Ramadan, Muslims eat twice a day: before dawn during Suhur and after sunset during Iftar. Suhoor is a pre—dawn meal that should provide the body with energy for the whole day, so it is recommended to consume complex carbohydrates, proteins and foods high in fiber at this meal.

Among the healthy dishes for suhur are oatmeal, dates, nuts, eggs, yogurt, whole-grain bread, cheese, lean meat and vegetables. It is also important to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration during the day.

Iftar is an evening meal that begins with the traditional conclusion of fasting with dates and water, following the example of the Prophet Muhammad. Dates quickly replenish blood sugar levels, and water quenches thirst. After that, you can eat a light soup, such as lentil soup, and start the main course. The main meal should include proteins (chicken, fish, beef, legumes), complex carbohydrates (rice, bulgur, couscous), vegetables and healthy fats (olive oil, nuts, avocado).

Traditional dishes from different Muslim countries include pilaf, dolma, shawarma, samsa, tajine, hummus, tabouleh and stuffed vegetables. It is important to avoid heavy and fatty foods so as not to overload the stomach after a whole day of fasting.

Desserts during Ramadan also occupy an important place, but they should be consumed in moderation. Sweets such as baklava, kataif, sesame biscuits and date paste are popular.

It is important not to forget about the drinking regime and consume a lot of water between iftar and suhur, as well as herbal teas and fresh juices to maintain fluid levels in the body. The diet during Ramadan should be balanced in order to maintain health and strength during the fasting period.