Ramadan
- 1The holy ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, also abstaining from drinking, smoking, and sexual relations.
Comparable to Lent in Christianity: a fixed annual period of fasting and spiritual discipline.
Mosques fill up each night of Ramadan for special prayers after the fast ends.
Workplaces often adjust hours during Ramadan to accommodate employees who are fasting.
Note
A month set by the moon rather than the sun: the ninth of the Islamic lunar, or hijri, calendar. It is kept with the obligatory daytime fast called sawm, from true dawn (fajr) to sunset (maghrib), in remembrance of the Quran's revelation. In English it is capitalized like any month name. It takes a plural when years of observance are counted: she has fasted through many Ramadans. The word is a transliteration of Arabic ramaḍān.
Less common meaning
- 2A male given name of Arabic origin, commonly used among Muslims.
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Origin
It is a transliteration of the Arabic word رَمَضَان (ramaḍān).