Every year, over two billion Muslims across the globe, from London and Birmingham to Karachi, Cairo, and Kuala Lumpur, set aside their daily routines to observe a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and charity. Ramadan is one of the most widely recognised religious observances on earth, yet the profound wisdom behind it often goes unexplored. For many non-Muslims, and even for younger generations of Muslims growing up in the UK, the deeper reasons behind fasting remain only partially understood.
Why do Muslims fast? Is it simply about abstaining from food and water? And what does it truly mean spiritually, physically, and socially to fast for an entire month? This article explores the rich and layered reasons behind fasting in Ramadan, drawing on authentic Quranic verses, verified Hadith, and accurate current statistics to give you a complete picture of one of Islam’s most sacred obligations.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar (Hijri) calendar and is universally regarded as the holiest month of the year in Islam. It is the month in which the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and it is observed globally as a time of fasting, increased worship, communal prayer, charity, and spiritual renewal.
In 2026, Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of Tuesday, 17th February 2026, with the first day of fasting falling on Wednesday, 18th February 2026. The month is expected to conclude around 18th–19th March 2026, subject to the sighting of the crescent moon as confirmed by Islamic Relief UK. Because Ramadan 2026 falls in late winter, fasting hours across the UK are relatively manageable at approximately 11 to 13 hours per day, increasing as daylight hours grow through February and into March.
As of 2025, there are approximately 2.1 billion Muslims worldwide, representing around 26% of the global population, making Islam the second-largest religion in the world. In England and Wales alone, according to the 2021 Census published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 3.9 million people or 6.5% of the population, identified as Muslim. This marks a 44% increase from the 2.7 million recorded in the 2011 Census, reflecting the significant and growing presence of Muslim communities in cities like London, Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester, Leicester, Luton, and Blackburn.
To understand why Muslims fast, you first need to understand the structure of the Islamic faith. Islam is built on five core acts of worship known as the Five Pillars: Shahadah (declaration of faith), Salat (five daily prayers), Zakat (obligatory charity), Sawm (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). These pillars are not optional acts of devotion; they are divine obligations prescribed by Allah (SWT).
Sawm, the Arabic word for fasting, is the fourth pillar, and it is directly commanded in the Quran. Allah (SWT) says:
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you, that you may become righteous.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:183)
This verse reveals several important truths. Firstly, fasting is obligatory, not a personal choice. Secondly, it was prescribed to communities before the coming of Islam, pointing to the universal and timeless wisdom embedded within this act. Thirdly and most significantly, the verse declares the purpose of fasting openly: “that you may become righteous.” In Arabic, the word used is Taqwa, which is the heart of everything Ramadan is about.
The primary and clearest reason for fasting is stated in the Quran itself: to attain Taqwa, God-consciousness, piety, and mindfulness of Allah (SWT). Taqwa is not simply about following rules; it is a living, breathing awareness of Allah in every action, every thought, and every moment of the day.
When a Muslim in Manchester or Bradford goes without food and water from Fajr to Maghrib, each pang of hunger and every moment of thirst becomes a reminder that they are doing this for Allah alone. The body is brought under the command of the soul. Desires are regulated, not indulged. This internal struggle and its successful navigation is the essence of Taqwa.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Taqwa is here,” and he pointed to his chest three times. (Sahih Muslim, 2564)
One of the most powerful motivations for fasting in Ramadan is the promise of forgiveness from Allah (SWT). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) declared:
“Whoever fasts during Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 38; Sahih Muslim, 760)
This hadith is one of the most quoted and most treasured promises related to Ramadan. For Muslims across the UK and indeed across the world, this is the spiritual reset of the year. Ramadan is the annual opportunity to wipe the slate clean, to turn to Allah in sincere repentance, and to emerge from the month renewed in faith and purpose. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also described Ramadan as a month in which the gates of Jannah (Paradise) are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the devils are chained. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1899; Sahih Muslim, 1079)
Allah (SWT) tells us in the Quran:
“The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Quran was revealed as guidance for mankind, and as clear proofs of guidance and the criterion.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:185)
Ramadan is not simply a month of fasting, it is the month of the Quran. Muslims fast in this month as an act of gratitude for the greatest gift humanity has ever received: divine guidance. During Ramadan, Muslims across the UK and the world increase their recitation and study of the Quran, with many aiming to complete a full reading of its thirty sections across the month. Mosques in Birmingham, London, and Bradford fill nightly with worshippers attending Tarawih prayers, where long passages of the Quran are recited in congregation.
Fasting in Ramadan is far more than a physical act. It is a complete programme of character development. Muslims are required not only to abstain from food and drink, but also to refrain from lying, backbiting, arguing, sinning, and all forms of immoral behaviour.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever does not give up false speech and acts upon it, Allah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1903)
This hadith makes clear that the physical fast is only the outer layer. The real fast is of the tongue, the heart, and the character. Ramadan is designed by Allah (SWT) to produce better human beings, people with stronger self-control, greater honesty, and a deeper commitment to moral excellence. Over 29 or 30 days of sustained effort, these qualities become habits that ideally carry forward through the rest of the year.
Fasting creates something that no lecture or book can fully achieve: a felt, bodily understanding of hunger. When a Muslim feels genuine hunger during a fast, they gain real empathy for those who experience hunger not by choice but by necessity. This empathy is not incidental — it is intentional. It is one of the reasons why Ramadan is the most generous month in the Islamic calendar.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, as of 2024, an estimated 733 million people worldwide faced hunger, based on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024 report (SOFI 2024). Additionally, approximately 2.33 billion people experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2024. When British Muslims break their fasts each evening with dates and water, following the blessed Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), millions of people around the world still go to sleep without having eaten at all.
Muslims fast from the moment of Fajr (dawn) to the moment of Maghrib (sunset). During this time, they abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual relations. The pre-dawn meal, eaten before Fajr, is called Suhoor, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged it, saying: “Eat Suhoor, for in Suhoor there is blessing.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1923; Sahih Muslim, 1095)
The fast-breaking meal at sunset is called Iftar. Following the Sunnah, Muslims traditionally break their fast with dates and water before proceeding to the evening prayer. In addition to the physical fast, Muslims during Ramadan increase their acts of worship through:
Reciting and reflecting on the Quran, performing the five daily obligatory prayers, attending Tarawih prayers at night, special extended congregational prayers in which large portions of the Quran are recited, making du’a (supplication), giving Sadaqah (voluntary charity), and fulfilling Zakat obligations.
Among the greatest blessings of Ramadan is Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power, or Night of Decree. Allah (SWT) describes it in the Quran:
“Indeed, We sent this Quran down on the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” (Surah Al-Qadr, 97:1–3)
This means that worship performed on this single night carries a reward surpassing that of 1,000 months, equivalent to over 83 years of continuous worship. The Night of Power is to be sought in the last ten nights of Ramadan, and in 2026 is most widely expected to fall on the evening of Monday, 16th March 2026 (the 27th night of Ramadan). Mosques across London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford, and Leicester become especially vibrant in these final nights as worshippers stay up in prayer and supplication, seeking the immeasurable reward of this blessed occasion.
| Aspect | Detail |
| Ramadan 2026 Start (UK) | Evening of Tuesday 17th February 2026 (subject to moon sighting) |
| First Day of Fasting | Wednesday 18th February 2026 |
| Ramadan End / Eid al-Fitr | Around 19th–20th March 2026 (subject to moon sighting) |
| Fasting Hours in UK (2026) | Approx. 11 hours (early days) to 13 hours (final days) |
| Suhoor | Pre-dawn meal before Fajr prayer |
| Iftar | Sunset meal breaking the fast, traditionally with dates and water |
| Charity Obligation | Zakat al-Fitr to be paid before Eid al-Fitr |
| Global Muslim Population | Approx. 2.1 billion (26% of the world population, 2025) |
| UK Muslim Population | 3.9 million — 6.5% of England & Wales (2021 Census, ONS) |
| Global Hunger (FAO 2024) | 733 million people are facing hunger worldwide (SOFI 2024) |
The Islamic sources on fasting are rich and precise. Every significant ruling and virtue of Ramadan fasting is backed by authentic, verified texts from the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Below are several of the most important and widely authenticated references:
Allah (SWT) says in the Quran: “And it is better for you that you fast, if you only knew.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:184) This verse, speaking of fasting’s superior merit, is a divine endorsement of the act itself.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Every action of the son of Adam is given a manifold reward, each good deed receiving ten times its like, up to seven hundred times. Allah the Most High said: Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will give recompense for it.” (Sahih Muslim, 1151) This hadith, known as Hadith Qudsi (a narration conveying the direct words of Allah), establishes that the reward of fasting is uniquely unlimited and known only to Allah (SWT).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: “There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection, and no one except them will enter through it.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1896; Sahih Muslim, 1152) A promise of a dedicated gate in Jannah exclusively for those who fasted sincerely.
He (peace be upon him) further said: “The fasting person has two moments of joy: one when he breaks his fast, and one when he meets his Lord.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 7492; Sahih Muslim, 1151) A beautiful description of the dual reward of fasting: the immediate joy of Iftar, and the ultimate joy of meeting Allah.
Ramadan is inseparably linked with charity. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was famously described by his companions as being the most generous of all people, and he would become even more generous during Ramadan, described as being “like the fast wind” in his giving. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6)
Muslims believe that acts of charity performed in Ramadan are multiplied in reward, making this the most important and most generous month of the year for charitable giving. Communities across the UK, from Tower Hamlets in London to Sparkhill in Birmingham, come together to organise communal Iftars, food drives, and fundraising campaigns. British Muslim charities collectively raise tens of millions of pounds during Ramadan each year, channeling funds to some of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
This spirit of giving during Ramadan is not incidental; it directly reflects the empathy built through fasting. When you experience hunger yourself, giving food to those who have none becomes not just a duty but a deeply felt response.
Al-Qulub Trust is a UK-registered Islamic charity dedicated to alleviating poverty and suffering among the world’s most vulnerable communities. During Ramadan, when the spirit of giving is at its highest, Al-Qulub Trust intensifies its efforts to ensure that families in dire need receive food, clean water, and essential relief.
Through its RAMADAN APPEAL 2026, Al-Qulub Trust distributes essential food parcels, provides Iftar meals to orphans and destitute families, supports widows, and delivers aid to impoverished communities in some of the world’s most crisis-affected regions. Every pound donated during Ramadan is an opportunity to multiply your reward, fulfil your Islamic duty of care for others, and make a direct, tangible difference in someone’s life this blessed month.
In a world where the FAO’s State of Food Security and Nutrition report confirms 733 million people will face hunger in 2024, your Ramadan giving is not just an act of faith; it is an act of humanity. If you are looking for a trusted and transparent charity to support this Ramadan, Al-Qulub Trust ensures that your donation reaches those who need it most.
Can children fast? Children are not obligated to fast, though many Muslim families in the UK gradually introduce younger children to shorter fasts as they grow older, in order to build familiarity and love for the month before adulthood.
Is fasting harmful to health? For healthy adults, Ramadan fasting is safe. In fact, research published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2019) found that intermittent fasting can support metabolic health and reduce inflammation. However, the spiritual purpose of fasting always takes precedence, and those with medical conditions are always excused.
What if someone eats by mistake? If a Muslim accidentally eats or drinks during the fast, out of genuine forgetfulness, their fast is not invalidated. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever forgets he is fasting and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast, for it is Allah Who has fed him and given him to drink.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1933; Sahih Muslim, 1155)
Does using a miswak or toothbrush break the fast? The use of a miswak (natural tooth-cleaning stick) during the fast is supported by the Sunnah, and most scholars permit a toothbrush provided nothing is swallowed.
The wisdom behind fasting in Ramadan is multilayered, divinely designed, and deeply personal. It is simultaneously a divine command, a spiritual journey, a character-building exercise, and a communal celebration shared by over two billion people. Muslims fast not to punish themselves, but because they recognise that true freedom comes from mastering one’s desires and that the greatest reward lies in closeness to Allah (SWT).
To learn more about supporting vulnerable communities this blessed month and to make your Ramadan giving count, explore Al-Qulub Trust’s work with fasting in Ramadan and donate through the Ramadan Appeal 2026 today. Every act of generosity in this month is a step closer to the mercy and reward of Allah (SWT).
Q1. Why do Muslims fast in Ramadan?
Muslims fast in Ramadan because Allah (SWT) commanded it in the Quran (2:183) to attain Taqwa, God-consciousness and righteousness. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and an obligatory act of worship.
Q2. What time does fasting start and end?
Fasting begins at Fajr (dawn) and ends at Maghrib (sunset). Muslims eat Suhoor before Fajr and break their fast with Iftar at sunset, traditionally starting with dates and water.
Q3. Who is exempt from fasting in Ramadan?
Those who are ill, travelling, pregnant, breastfeeding, menstruating, or elderly are exempt from fasting. They either make up missed fasts later or pay Fidyah, feeding a person in need for each missed day.
Q4. Does fasting only mean avoiding food and drink?
No, Muslims must also abstain from smoking, lying, backbiting, and sinful behaviour. The Prophet (ﷺ) said whoever does not avoid false speech, Allah has no need of them, giving up food and drink. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1903)
Q5. What is the reward for fastingduring Ramadan?
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping for reward, all his past sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 38; Sahih Muslim, 760)
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