Why does Ramadan start on a different date every year?

Detailed answer

Ramadan starts on a different date every year because it follows the Islamic (Hijri) calendar, which is based on the moon, while most of the world uses the solar Gregorian calendar. A lunar month lasts 29 or 30 days, so twelve lunar months add up to about 354 or 355 days. That is around 11 days shorter than a solar year of 365 days.

What the Quran says

The Quran links the months to the moon. Allah says: "They ask you about the new moons. Say: they are markers of time for people and for Hajj" (Al-Baqarah 2:189). It also states that the number of months with Allah is twelve (At-Tawbah 9:36). Muslims therefore keep their religious dates, such as Ramadan, Eid and Hajj, by the lunar calendar.

What this means in practice

• Ramadan begins about 11 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar (sometimes 10 or 12 days).
• It travels through all the seasons, completing a full cycle in about 33 years.
• Over a lifetime, a Muslim fasts Ramadan in winter, spring, summer and autumn, with short days and long days.

For example, Ramadan 2027 (1448 AH) is expected to begin on Monday 8 February 2027, and the following Ramadan should come about 11 days earlier, in late January 2028.

A wisdom in the moving calendar

Many scholars point to a fairness in this system. Because Ramadan rotates through the year, no country or hemisphere always has the longest or hottest fasting days. Everyone experiences easier and harder Ramadans over time, and the reward is with Allah.

Why the exact day can differ

Each month begins with the new crescent, so the first day of Ramadan is confirmed by moon sighting or calculation, and it can differ by a day between countries. You can follow the lunar months on our Hijri calendar, see the moon phases, and read how the start of Ramadan is decided. For the expected start in your country, see Ramadan dates.