When is Ramadan 2025? Dates for start and finish of Ramadan

People pray at the Taste Ramadan event on Liverpool Pier Head last year
-Credit:Liverpool Echo


Ramadan is set to happen later this month, marking the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It's a time held in high esteem by Muslims worldwide as they believe it's when the first verse of the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

During this period, millions of Muslims globally, including those in Merseyside, engage in fasting from before dawn until sunset. Participants abstain from eating or drinking and avoid "sinful behaviour" such as smoking and sexual activity.

The expected start date for Ramadan 2025 is Friday, February 28, and it will last until Sunday, March 30. However, the exact dates depend on the sighting of the moon. The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, so Ramadan moves about ten days each year—it began on Thursday, March 12, in 2024.

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The holy month offers Muslims a chance to attain "infinite blessing and reward". The fast, known as Sawm, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is intended to bring Muslims closer to God and to remind the community of the suffering of those less fortunate.

Following the conclusion of Ramadan is the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, which translates to the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast. This significant event marks the end of Ramadan, the month-long fast, and the beginning of Shawwal, the next month in the Islamic calendar.

While not a public holiday in the UK, Eid al-Fitr is officially recognised in many Muslim-majority nations.

Ramadan 2025 key dates

(dependent on the moon sighting)

Start

  • Friday, February 28

Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan)

  • Evening of Sunday, March 30

Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power)

  • Evening of Wednesday, March 26 - 27th night of Ramadan