The short answer
Ramadan is the Islamic month in which eligible Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. The Qur’an connects fasting with God-consciousness: learning to live with awareness of God. Muslims also give attention to prayer, reading the Qur’an, and generosity.
A little more context
Fasting is more than abstaining from food and drink. It is connected to self-restraint and conduct. Islamic teaching includes exemptions and accommodations; illness and travel are explicitly addressed in Qur’an 2:185. This page is a general explanation, not individual health or religious advice.
Sources & further reading
- Qur’an 2:183 The purpose of fasting.
- Qur’an 2:185 Ramadan and accommodations.
Original introductory summary, not a direct scripture translation. Prepared 21 October 2026. Qualified human religious review is pending. About our editorial approach.