RAMADAN: fasting yet feasting, hidden yet revealed

Ramadan 2026, the month of fasting and prayer in the global Muslim community, is expected to begin on the evening of Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and conclude on the evening of Friday, March 20, 2026. However, as always, the exact start and end dates depend on the local sighting of the crescent moon, so some regions may observe it a day earlier or later. Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, is anticipated to begin on the evening of Friday, March 20, 2026

WHAT IS RAMADAN

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is considered the holiest month in Islam. It is a time of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community for Muslims worldwide.

Key Aspects of Ramadan

• Fasting (Sawm): From dawn (Fajr) until sunset (Maghrib), Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking, and marital relations. The fast is broken each evening with the meal called Iftar.
• Spiritual Focus: Ramadan emphasizes self-discipline, repentance, and drawing closer to God through prayer, Qur’an recitation, and acts of charity.
• Special Nights: The last ten nights are especially significant, with Laylat al-Qadr (“Night of Power”) believed to be when the Qur’an was first revealed.
• Community and Generosity: Muslims give Zakat (charity) and often share meals with family, neighbours, and the poor.
• Duration: It lasts 29–30 days, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon, and ends with Eid al-Fitr, a festival of breaking the fast.

In essence, Ramadan is both a physical discipline and a spiritual journey—fasting from food and drink while feasting on prayer, compassion, and community.

HOW JESUS MIGHT APPROACH RAMADAN

Ramadan invites us to imagine Jesus’ posture toward people who are sincerely seeking God during fasting and prayer. While the Gospels don’t mention Ramadan (since it arose centuries later), we can draw from Jesus’ character and teachings to envision how He might approach it.

• With Compassion: Jesus consistently showed tenderness toward those who were hungry, weary, or burdened. He would see the fasting not only as physical discipline but as a longing for God, and He would respond with empathy.
• With honour: Jesus honoured sincere seekers—even those outside His immediate tradition (think of the Samaritan woman at the well or the Roman centurion). He would likely affirm the sincerity of Muslims who devote themselves to prayer and fasting.
• With Invitation: Jesus often reframed practices into deeper encounters with God. He might say, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6), inviting Muslims to see their hunger as pointing to a deeper satisfaction in God’s presence.
• With Solidarity: Jesus Himself fasted for forty days in the wilderness. He knows the discipline, the weakness, and the spiritual clarity that fasting brings. He would stand alongside Muslims in their devotion, not in opposition.
• With Revelation of Love: Ultimately, Jesus would approach Ramadan as an opportunity to reveal God’s love—meeting people in their prayers, dreams, and acts of generosity, and showing that God’s mercy is abundant.

PRAYING FOR THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY

Ramadan is a season of deep devotion for Muslims, and Christians who want to pray during this time can do so with respect, love, and a spirit of solidarity. Here are some thoughtful ways to frame prayer:

Ways Christians can pray during Ramadan

• Pray for God’s Presence: Ask that Muslims experience peace, guidance, and a sense of God’s nearness as they fast and seek Him.
• Pray for Blessing: Lift up families and communities, praying for health, provision, and joy in their gatherings at Iftar (breaking the fast).
• Pray for Understanding: Ask for bridges of friendship and dialogue between Christians and Muslims, so that mutual respect and love grow.
• Pray for Justice and Mercy: Remember those who suffer—whether from poverty, conflict, or displacement—and pray that Ramadan becomes a time of compassion and generosity.
• Pray for Revelation: Christians often pray that God would reveal Himself in fresh ways, through dreams, scripture, or encounters, while honouring the sincerity of Muslim devotion.
• Pray for Peacemakers: Lift up leaders and ordinary people who work for reconciliation, asking that their efforts bear fruit during this sacred season.

A SAMPLE PRAYER

“Lord, during this holy month of Ramadan, we pray for our Muslim neighbours and friends.  You know each one by name.  You have created them in Your image.  You know the hairs on their heads.  May their fasting be met with strength, their prayers with peace, and their generosity with joy. We ask that bridges of love and understanding grow between us, and that Your mercy be poured out on all who seek You with sincere hearts. May those who seek You find You and those who long for you, be satisfied.  We know You came to seek and save – may those who seek be saved”

This kind of prayer is not about opposition but about solidarity in seeking God. It’s a way of honoring the devotion of Muslims while asking for God’s light and love to be revealed.