Ramadan 2027 expected to begin on 8 February

The countdown to Ramadan 2027 has entered its final five lunar months, with 147 days remaining until the holy month is expected to begin.

Monday, 14 September, marks the third day of Rabi Al Thani 1448 AH. Based on current astronomical calculations, Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on Monday, 8 February, although the official date will depend on the sighting of the new crescent moon.

Ramadan does not fall on the same Gregorian date in consecutive years. The Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle and is about 354 days long, roughly 10 to 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. As a result, Ramadan moves earlier by around 10 to 11 days each year.

This gradual shift means Muslims experience Ramadan in every season over a cycle of roughly 33 years.

Astronomical forecasts indicate that the Ramadan crescent will be sought on the evening of Sunday, 7 February 2027. If the crescent is sighted, the first Tarawih prayers will be performed that evening, with Muslims beginning their fast the following morning.

Ramadan is expected to last either 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the Shawwal crescent. Eid Al Fitr is currently forecast to begin on Wednesday, 10 March 2027, subject to official confirmation.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is regarded by Muslims as the holiest month of the year. It commemorates the month in which Muslims believe the Quran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food and drink while placing greater emphasis on prayer, charity, self-discipline, family and community.

Despite increasingly precise astronomical calculations, the official beginning of Ramadan continues to be determined by the sighting of the crescent moon in accordance with Islamic practice.