Ramadan is currently being recognised by Muslim communities across the world.
During this time, Muslims are required to spend a period of 30 days abstaining from food and drink, including water, smoking and sexual intercourse, during daylight hours as a means of celebrating and reflecting on their faith.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the Shahadah (declaration of faith), Salat (prayer), Zakat (charity) and the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
Those observing the fast are encouraged to read the Quran and the holy text is recited at the Tarawih – special nightly prayers that are held throughout the month.
When can you eat during Ramadan?
Suhoor is the meal eaten before dawn on each fasting day, while Iftar is the meal eaten after dark to break the fast.
There are five main prayers each day: Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha. Here are the London timings for each prayer, along with the sunrise and sunset meal times for each day of Ramadan. Find timings for other cities here.
Monday 27 March
- Fajr – 5.12am
- Sunrise – 6.46am
- Dhuhr – 1.11pm
- Asr – 4.32pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.27pm
- Isha – 8.45pm
Tuesday 28 March
- Fajr – 5.11am
- Sunrise – 6.44am
- Dhuhr – 1.11pm
- Asr – 4.33pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.29pm
- Isha – 8.47pm
Wednesday 29 March
- Fajr – 5.08am
- Sunrise – 6.41am
- Dhuhr – 1.10pm
- Asr – 4.34pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.30pm
- Isha – 8.47pm
Thursday 30 March
- Fajr – 5.06am
- Sunrise – 6.39am
- Dhuhr – 1.10pm
- Asr – 4.35pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.32pm
- Isha – 8.49pm
Friday 31 March
- Fajr – 5.05am
- Sunrise – 6.37am
- Dhuhr – 1.10pm
- Asr – 4.36pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.34pm
- Isha – 8.51pm
Saturday 1 April
- Fajr – 5.02am
- Sunrise – 6.34am
- Dhuhr – 1.09pm
- Asr – 4.37pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.35pm
- Isha – 8.52pm
Sunday 2 April
- Fajr – 5am
- Sunrise – 6.32am
- Dhuhr – 1.09pm
- Asr – 4.38pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.37pm
- Isha – 8.54pm
Monday 3 April
- Fajr – 4.58am
- Sunrise – 6.30am
- Dhuhr – 1.09pm
- Asr – 4.39pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.39pm
- Isha – 8.55pm
Tuesday 4 April
- Fajr – 4.56am
- Sunrise – 6.28am
- Dhuhr – 1.09pm
- Asr – 4.39pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.40pm
- Isha – 8.56pm
Wednesday 5 April
- Fajr – 4.53am
- Sunrise – 6.25am
- Dhuhr – 1.08pm
- Asr – 4.40pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.42pm
- Isha – 8.58pm
Thursday 6 April
- Fajr – 4.51am
- Sunrise – 6.23am
- Dhuhr – 1.08pm
- Asr – 4.41pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.44pm
- Isha – 9pm
Friday 7 April
- Fajr – 4.49am
- Sunrise – 6.21am
- Dhuhr – 1.08pm
- Asr – 4.42pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.45pm
- Isha – 9.01pm
Saturday 8 April
- Fajr – 4.47am
- Sunrise – 6.19am
- Dhuhr – 1.07pm
- Asr – 4.43pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.47pm
- Isha – 9.03pm
Sunday 9 April
- Fajr – 4.45am
- Sunrise – 6.17am
- Dhuhr – 1.07pm
- Asr – 4.44pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.49pm
- Isha – 9.04pm
Monday 10 April
- Fajr – 4.42am
- Sunrise – 6.14am
- Dhuhr – 1.07pm
- Asr – 4.44pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.51pm
- Isha – 9.06pm
Tuesday 11 April
- Fajr – 4.40am
- Sunrise – 6.12am
- Dhuhr – 1.07pm
- Asr – 4.45pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.52pm
- Isha – 9.07pm
Wednesday 12 April
- Fajr – 4.38am
- Sunrise – 6.10am
- Dhuhr – 1.06pm
- Asr – 4.46pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.54pm
- Isha – 9.09pm
Thursday 13 April
- Fajr – 4.36am
- Sunrise – 6.08am
- Dhuhr – 1.06pm
- Asr – 4.47pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.56pm
- Isha – 9.11pm
Friday 14 April
- Fajr – 4.34am
- Sunrise – 6.06am
- Dhuhr – 1.06pm
- Asr – 4.48pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.57pm
- Isha – 9.12pm
Saturday 15 April
- Fajr – 4.31am
- Sunrise – 6.03am
- Dhuhr – 1.06pm
- Asr – 4.48pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 7.59pm
- Isha – 9.14pm
Sunday 16 April
- Fajr – 4.29am
- Sunrise – 6.01am
- Dhuhr – 1.05pm
- Asr – 4.49pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 8.01pm
- Isha – 9.16pm
Monday 17 April
- Fajr – 4.27am
- Sunrise – 5.59am
- Dhuhr – 1.05pm
- Asr – 4.50pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 8.02pm
- Isha – 9.16pm
Tuesday 18 April
- Fajr – 4.24am
- Sunrise – 5.57am
- Dhuhr – 1.05pm
- Asr – 4.51pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 8.04pm
- Isha – 9.18pm
Wednesday 19 April
- Fajr – 4.22am
- Sunrise – 5.55am
- Dhuhr – 1.05pm
- Asr – 4.52pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 8.06pm
- Isha – 9.20pm
Thursday 20 April
- Fajr – 4.20am
- Sunrise – 5.53am
- Dhuhr – 1.04pm
- Asr – 4.52pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 8.07pm
- Isha – 9.21pm
Friday 21 April
- Fajr – 4.17am
- Sunrise – 5.51am
- Dhuhr – 1.04pm
- Asr – 4.53pm
- Maghrib/Iftar – 8.09pm
- Isha – 9.23pm
Who is exempt from fasting?
Fasting between dawn and sunset is compulsory for all healthy adult Muslims and those children who have reached puberty.
Children who have not yet reached puberty are not expected to fast.
There are also exemptions made for certain categories of people.
According to the British Islamic Medical Association, the following people will not be expected to fast:
- All those who are unable to fast due to illness (physical or mental) or being very frail
- Women menstruating or those with postnatal bleeding
- Pregnant women and those breastfeeding who have concerns about their own or their child’s health
- Travellers
Diabetics fall under the list of people considered unable to fast due to illness and can be exempt on medical grounds, particularly if they suffer from complications such as poor vision, nerve damage, heart or kidney disease.
The charity Diabetes UK said: “Before deciding to fast, it is important to check in with your healthcare team to see how you are currently managing your diabetes.
“This can help you to understand how fasting could be a risk to your health, how to reduce this risk or whether the risk to your health is too high.”
Injections including insulin and Covid-19 vaccinations are permitted during Ramadan.
