Your First Ramadan as a New Muslim: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Your first Ramadan is something you will remember for the rest of your life. It can be exhausting, emotional and beautiful all at once. Here's how to prepare so it feels more like a gift than an ordeal.

What Ramadan is

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the month in which the Qur'an began to be revealed. Fasting during it is one of the five pillars of Islam:

Al-Baqarah 2:183

From dawn until sunset, Muslims who are able don't eat, drink or have sexual relations. But Ramadan is much more than skipping meals. It's a month of prayer, Qur'an, generosity, patience and closeness to Allah.

Who has to fast

Fasting is required of every adult Muslim who is healthy, sane and not travelling. Some people are excused: the Qur'an names the ill and travellers directly Al-Baqarah 2:184, and the Prophet's ﷺ teaching explains the others:

• People who are ill — they make up the days later, when they're well
• Travellers — they may postpone and make up the days later
• Women during their period or after childbirth — they don't fast, and make up the days later
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women who fear for themselves or the baby
• Elderly people or the chronically ill who can't fast — scholars say they feed a needy person for each day instead (fidyah)

If you have a medical condition, speak to your doctor and your local imam before Ramadan. Your health is a trust from Allah.

What breaks the fast

• Eating or drinking on purpose
• Smoking or vaping
• Sexual relations during the daytime
• Deliberately making yourself vomit

What doesn't break it: eating or drinking by genuine mistake (just stop and carry on fasting), brushing your teeth without swallowing, showering, or most injections that aren't nutritional. Scholars differ on a few details, such as some medicines, so practice varies; ask your local mosque.

A day in Ramadan

• Suhoor — a meal before dawn. Even a few dates and water count, and there's blessing in it. Eat slow-release food: oats, eggs, yoghurt, fruit, plenty of water.
• Fajr — the fast begins at true dawn, around the time of the Fajr prayer.
• The day — go to work or school as normal. Rest when you can.
• Iftar — break your fast at sunset, at Maghrib, traditionally with dates and water. Don't overeat; your stomach will thank you.
• Taraweeh — optional night prayers at the mosque, a highlight for many people. Go when you can.

Tips for your first Ramadan

1. 1Start preparing a few weeks early. Fast a few voluntary days beforehand to see how your body reacts.
2. 2Cut down on caffeine gradually before Ramadan to avoid headaches.
3. 3Set small goals. Read a page of Qur'an a day, give a little charity, pray Taraweeh twice a week. Small and steady beats ambitious and abandoned.
4. 4Go to community iftars. Mosques often host free iftars, and they are one of the easiest ways for a new Muslim to make friends.
5. 5Expect hard days. Day three is often the toughest. It gets easier.
6. 6Look after your mind. Ramadan can be lonely if you're the only Muslim in your family. See our guide for lonely moments.

The last ten nights and Laylat al-Qadr

The last ten nights of Ramadan contain Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Decree — better than a thousand months:

Al-Qadr 97:1-5

Many Muslims spend these nights in extra prayer, Qur'an and du'a. A simple du'a taught by the Prophet ﷺ is: "Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa fa'fu 'anni" — O Allah, You are Pardoning and love to pardon, so pardon me.

Eid al-Fitr

Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, a day of celebration. Before the Eid prayer, every Muslim who can gives zakat al-fitr — a small charity, usually the price of a meal, so everyone can celebrate. Ask your mosque how much it is in your area.

How AskDeen can help

Your first Ramadan is easier with a companion. AskDeen gives you today's suhoor and iftar times for wherever you are, with a countdown to sunset, reminders on your phone if you want them, and a fasting log that keeps track of any days you need to make up. Missed a fast because you were ill? AskDeen remembers, and helps you make it up after Ramadan.

And every time a question pops into your head — Does this medicine break my fast? Can I brush my teeth? — just ask. You'll get a gentle answer, with the Qur'an and hadith behind it linked so you can read them yourself.

Ramadan Mubarak in advance. Let AskDeen help you make the most of it.