2 Billion Muslims Begin Ramadan Fasting... No Water Allowed During Daytime for a Month

by Lee Sungmin

Published 01 Mar.2025 18:07(KST)

The Ramadan fasting period, during which 2 billion Muslims abstain from food and water while the sun is up for about a month, has begun.

On the 1st (local time), according to Indonesia's Antara News Agency and others, Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs, which has the largest Muslim population in the world, officially announced that Ramadan would start from the 1st after Islamic astronomers in Aceh Province, the westernmost region, confirmed the sighting of the new crescent moon the day before.

On the 28th of last month, Muslim women attended a prayer meeting at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, the Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, and Egypt also entered Ramadan from the 1st. On the other hand, Pakistan and Iran will begin Ramadan a day later, on the 2nd.

Ramadan, one of the five pillars of Islam, is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. However, the start date of Ramadan can differ by about a day depending on the country. In the Islamic calendar, the day the new crescent moon appears is considered the beginning of the month. Ramadan starts after the crescent moon is visually confirmed.

During Ramadan, from sunrise to sunset, Muslims refrain from consuming not only food but also water. They observe the five daily prayers more strictly than usual and abstain from smoking, sexual relations, and even chewing gum, dedicating themselves to a time of self-restraint. They also focus on reading the Quran, charity, and good deeds.

During this period, restaurants close during the day or, if open, cover their doors with black curtains. Instead, after sunset, families, friends, and those in need are invited to enjoy 'Iftar,' the evening meal together. Because of this, although it is a fasting period, consumption increases and food prices rise.