Ramadan Mubarak!
Ramadan is one of the most important times of the year for Muslims. It is spiritual, communal, emotional, exhausting, joyful and deeply meaningful. For Christians, it is also one of the best windows of the year to pray and to intentionally connect with Muslim friends and neighbours.
This is not a time to sit back. If you know Muslims, this month is for you.
So, what is Ramadan anyway?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar and is the Islamic month of fasting. You can think of Ramadan as similar to the Christian season of Lent; a long period of spiritual focus and self-discipline. The fasting rules during Ramadan are much like those in a Jewish minor fast, where no food or water is taken between dawn and dusk. What makes Ramadan especially meaningful is that it is a community fast, with millions of Muslims around the world fasting together, supporting each other spiritually and socially.
This year (2026) Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of February 17 and end on the evening of March 18 (though exact dates depend on moon sightings).
During this time, Muslims who are fit and well will not eat or drink anything during daylight hours.
Alongside fasting, Muslims try to be more spiritual. Many pray more, give more to charity, and spend long hours reading the Quran. Many aim to read the entire Quran from beginning to end over the month.
And yet Ramadan is also full of food. The shops are packed. Dates are everywhere, often stacked almost to the ceiling. Every evening at sunset families and friends gather to break the fast together with a meal called iftar.
Muslims get genuinely excited about Ramadan. They fast together as a community and take spiritual life seriously. That alone is worth recognising and respecting.
If you have Muslim friends, colleagues, neighbours, shopkeepers, school parents or clients, this month is not optional. Ramadan is the easiest time of the year to start conversations, show kindness, and be present.
Here are some things you should simply plan to do:
Take something round
Buy a box of dates or a small gift and take it to your Muslim friends or neighbours. Say 'Ramadan Mubarak'. It really is that simple.
Add a card wishing them well on their fast, saying something like: ‘Have a blessed and meaningful Ramadan’
If appropriate, include a Bible verse about fasting, seeking God, or spiritual hunger. Muslims expect religious language during Ramadan. This does not feel strange or awkward. It feels normal.
Go to an Iftar meal - Yes, really, go!
If you get invited to an iftar, do not overthink it. Say yes.
If you have not been invited yet, hint. Ask what time they break the fast. Ask what they usually eat. Show interest. Invitations often follow naturally.
If there are community iftar events near you, go to them. Do not assume they are not for you. They often are.
For many Muslims, inviting someone to an iftar is a big act of hospitality. Accepting that invitation matters. Sitting at the table matters. This is where trust grows.
Ask questions and then listen
How is Ramadan going for you so far?
How does prayer feel different during this month?
What does fasting do for you spiritually?
What do you hope Ramadan will change in you?
Is Ramadan hard for you or joyful or both?
Does fasting help you feel closer to God?
How do you know if God is pleased with you?
What gives you confidence before God?
What do you think God desires most from us during Ramadan?
You do not need to ask many questions. One good question, followed by real listening, is usually enough. Let silence do some work. Let them finish their thoughts. Your interest may speak louder than your answers.
Pray like you mean it
Ramadan should change how we pray.
Pray for Muslim friends by name. Pray that as they hunger and thirst physically, God would awaken a deeper hunger for truth and life. Pray for peace, dreams, questions, and openness. Pray for courage and wisdom for yourself, too.
Use the 30-day prayer guide for the Muslim world at www.pray30day.org.
Just five minutes a day is enough to make this month count.
Learn a few words - It helps more than you think
Ramadan Mubarak
Pronounced: Rah ma dan Moo ba rak
Meaning: Wishing you a blessed Ramadan
Use this anytime during the month. It is always appropriate.Ramadan Kareem
Pronounced: Rah ma dan Ka reem
Meaning: Generous Ramadan
Also very common, especially among Arabs.Iftar
Pronounced: If taar
Meaning: The sunset meal when the fast is broken
This is the highlight of the day during Ramadan.Suhoor
Pronounced: Suh hoor
Meaning: The pre dawn meal before fasting begins
Many Muslims wake very early to eat together before dawn.Eid Mubarak
Pronounced: Eed Moo ba rak
Meaning: Have a blessed Eid (festival or celebration)
Use this at the end of Ramadan.
Even using one or two of these words shows respect and genuine interest. It often opens the door to conversation. Do not worry about getting the pronunciation perfect. People do not expect that. They notice the effort, and they really appreciate it.
Please do not let this month pass you by
Ramadan is not just a Muslim event happening somewhere else. It is happening on your street, in your workplace, and in your city.
Muslims are praying more. Fasting more. Thinking about God more. Gathering more. Talking about faith more.
If we are serious about loving our neighbours and bearing witness to Jesus, then Ramadan is not optional.
Make the effort. Take the dates. Go to the iftar. Ask the questions. Pray intentionally. This month will not come again for another year. Let’s not waste it.