Ramadan Mubarak (Ramadan Blessings) to our Muslim friends, colleagues and neighbours. In 2026, Ramadan begins Wednesday, February 18th and ends Thursday, March 19th, with Eid (a celebration of ‘breaking the fast’) on March 20th.

(Here is a description, with appreciation to Haseen Khan, President, Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.)

Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is an act of worship and obedience to God. Fasting is advocated by all three Abrahamic religions, though with varying restrictions.

The primary goal of fasting is to attain God-consciousness—guarding oneself against unlawful thoughts, desires, and actions. Fasting takes place annually during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, known as Ramadan. The word “Ramadan” comes from the Arabic word Ramad, meaning “dehydrating thirst” and “sun-baked ground.” It symbolizes the hunger and thirst experienced by those who fast. Through fasting, Muslims develop empathy for those who struggle daily with hunger and thirst, fostering a spirit of generosity and charity.

Ramadan (fasting) has many dimensions, but the most significant aspects related to God-consciousness include:

1. Strengthening one’s connection with God through intensified acts of worship—fasting, praying, reciting, and reflecting on the Quran and its message—as well as through character building, self-discipline, and self-restraint. This helps cultivate a strong character based on high moral and spiritual values.

2. Strengthening one’s connection with people through acts of compassion, forgiveness, justice, equality, love, and a spirit of caring and sharing. The most significant of these is sharing wealth with those in need, including relatives, community members, and others. This practice fosters selflessness and contributes to building a healthy and balanced society.

Ramadan serves as an institution for the moral and spiritual development of Muslims and the establishment of a healthy and sustainable society. Fasting instills a true sense of social belonging, unity, and brotherhood, reinforcing the idea of equality before God. This sense of unity is a natural outcome of the fact that when people fast, they join the entire Muslim community—more than one-fifth of the world’s population—in observing the same practice, in the same manner, at the same time, for the same purpose.

During Ramadan, Muslims celebrate the Quran, as it was revealed in this month…

Ramadan is a beacon of hope for believers, reminding them of the resilience and strength within their faith…

Ramadan is a living month—it brings life to those who fast…

Islam is a transformative religion, and Ramadan serves as an annual training ground for transformation—turning ignorance into knowledge, darkness into light, despair into hope, division into unity, hatred into love, revenge into forgiveness, anger into joy, exclusivity into inclusivity, oppression into freedom, prejudice into justice, racism into integration, and impulsiveness into self-control.

The successful completion of Ramadan purifies the heart, elevates the soul, and strengthens the spirit of brotherhood among believers. It rejuvenates the mind, body, and soul. This renewal is the true indicator of a successful completion of Ramadan—the annual month of spiritual training.