What is Ramadan and How Do Muslims Observe it?

FILE - Officials are silhouetted as they use a telescope to scan the horizon for a crescent moon that will determine the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, March. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, File)
FILE - Officials are silhouetted as they use a telescope to scan the horizon for a crescent moon that will determine the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, March. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, File)
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What is Ramadan and How Do Muslims Observe it?

FILE - Officials are silhouetted as they use a telescope to scan the horizon for a crescent moon that will determine the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, March. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, File)
FILE - Officials are silhouetted as they use a telescope to scan the horizon for a crescent moon that will determine the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, March. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, File)

Observant Muslims the world over will soon be united in a ritual of daily fasting from dawn to sunset as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan starts. For Muslims, it's a time of increased worship, charity and good deeds. Socially, it often brings families and friends together in festive gatherings around meals to break their fast. Ramadan is followed by Eid al-Fitr.

This year, Ramadan comes as the latest Israel-Hamas war has killed thousands of Palestinians, left much of Gaza in ruins and created a humanitarian catastrophe, with many Palestinians there, especially in the devastated northern region, scrambling for food to survive. Some Muslims have been brainstorming how to remain mindful of the Palestinians’ plight during Ramadan, including through making donations, saying prayers or incorporating Palestinian traditional symbols in how they mark the holy month.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar; the month cycles through the seasons.
The start of the month traditionally depends on the sighting of the crescent moon; this year, the first day is expected to be on or around March 11.

Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, along with the profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving, and pilgrimage.

The daily fast in Ramadan includes abstaining from all food and drink. Muslims typically stream into mosques for congregational prayers and dedicate more time for religious contemplation and the reading of the Quran, the Muslim holy book.
Charity is a hallmark of Ramadan. Among other ways of giving, many seek to provide iftar for the needy, distributing Ramadan boxes filled with pantry staples, handing out warm meals alongside such things as dates and juice or helping hold free communal meals.
Muslims eat a pre-dawn meal, called “suhoor,” to hydrate and nurture their bodies ahead of the daily fast.



Saudi Pavilion Earns Exclusive WELL Health-Safety Rating at Expo 2025 Osaka

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka has received the WELL Health-Safety Rating - SPA
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka has received the WELL Health-Safety Rating - SPA
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Saudi Pavilion Earns Exclusive WELL Health-Safety Rating at Expo 2025 Osaka

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka has received the WELL Health-Safety Rating - SPA
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka has received the WELL Health-Safety Rating - SPA

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka has received the WELL Health-Safety Rating, making it the only international pavilion to achieve this certification to date.

During a ceremony at the Saudi Pavilion, Saudi Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General of the Saudi Pavilion Dr. Ghazi Binzagr accepted the certificate from International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) Senior Vice President Jack Noonan, SPA reported.

Binzagr stated that the WELL certification reflects the pavilion's commitment to sustainable design and operational excellence. He emphasized that integrating WELL Building standards supports staff health and enhances the visitor experience, underscoring a focus on well-being.

The Health-Safety Rating, part of the WELL certification, is a globally recognized standard promoting health and well-being in built environments. It is based on research that improves human health through design interventions, operational protocols, and policies that foster a culture of well-being. This system creates spaces that enhance health, happiness, and productivity, and is managed by the IWBI to ensure independent evaluation and verification.

Designed by Foster + Partners and inspired by traditional Saudi villages, the pavilion incorporates sustainability elements, including renewable energy, low-carbon materials, and a lightweight façade with easily disassembled stone panels, thereby minimizing its environmental impact.

This certification highlights the pavilion's alignment with international standards for temporary buildings, focusing on occupant health in categories such as air quality, water quality, nutrition, lighting, physical fitness, comfort, and mental health.