Roza: A Time for Reflection and Renewal

When Will Ramadan 2025 Start in the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia?

Ramadan follows the lunar calendar, so it starts 10–12 days earlier each year. In 2025, Ramadan is expected to start on Saturday, March 01, 2025, in the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. The exact start date may vary based on the moon sighting in each country.

Timings of Ramadan Fasting

The timings of fasting during Ramadan are based on two key moments of the day:

1. Pre-Dawn (Fajr): The fast begins just before the Fajr prayer, at dawn, when the first light of the day appears. Muslims must abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs starting at this time.
2. Sunset (Maghrib): The fast ends at sunset, which is marked by the Maghrib prayer. Muslims can break their fast with dates, water, or a light meal.

Fasting Duas in English, Urdu, and Arabic

At the beginning of Ramadan Kareem Muslims greet each other with "Ramadan Mubarak" or "Ramadan Kareem" at the beginning of Ramadan, which means "Happy Ramadan" or "May Ramadan be generous to you". The appropriate response to "Ramadan Kareem" is "Allahu Akram," which means "God is much more generous".

Before Fasting (at dawn)

• وَبِصَوْمِ غَدٍ نَوَيْتُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ
• "میں نے رمضان کے مہینے میں کل کا روزہ رکھنے کی نیت کی ہے۔"
• "I intend to fast tomorrow in the month of Ramadan."

When Breaking the Fast (at sunset)

• اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي لَكَ صُمْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ، وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ أَفْطَرْتُ
• "اے اللہ! میں نے تیرے لیے روزہ رکھا، اور تجھ پر ایمان لایا، اور تجھ پر بھروسہ کیا، اور تیرے دیے ہوئے رزق سے افطار کیا۔"
• "O Allah, I fasted for You, and I believe in You, and I put my trust in You, and with Your sustenance, I break my fast."

During Ramadan, Muslims should focus on:

• Increased prayer and recitation of the Quran
• Self-reflection and repentance
• Acts of charity and kindness
• Avoiding negative behavior like gossiping, lying, or arguing

Things to avoid during Ramadan include:

• Eating, drinking, smoking from dawn to sunset
• Engaging in inappropriate behavior, such as excessive anger or dishonesty
• Excessive sleep or wasting time on distractions

What to do, if we skip fasting intentionally

If someone skips fasting without a valid reason, they should seek Allah's forgiveness through sincere repentance. This includes:

• Admit that you made a mistake.
• Feel sorry for skipping.
• Promise to try your best not to skip again.

Do these steps for punishment of intentionally skipped fasts

• For every fast you missed, you must fast on another day after Ramadan.
Do thse additional steps too.
• Fast for 60 days in a row, or>
or
• Feed 60 poor people.

Fidya and Kaffarah

• Fidya is a compensation paid by those unable to fast due to valid reasons, calculated per day of missed fasting.
• Breaking a fast intentionally without valid reasons requires Kaffarah, which includes fasting 60 consecutive days or feeding 60 needy people.

When is it Okay to Miss a Fast?

Islam allows you to skip fasting for good reasons, like:

• If you are sick.
• If you are traveling.
• If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or very old and weak.
• If you are a girl and have your period.

Special Days and Nights of Ramadan

• The last 10 days of Ramadan are significant for extra worship, particularly the odd nights.
• Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Decree) is most likely on the 27th night and is better than a thousand months in rewards.

Health and Practical Concerns

• It is advised to eat a pre-dawn meal (Suhoor) and stay hydrated before fasting begins.
• Fasting may not be safe for those with medical conditions, such as diabetes or during pregnancy, without consulting a doctor.

Special Acts of Worship

• Taraweeh prayers are performed nightly in Ramadan, but they are not obligatory.
• Reading or completing the Quran is encouraged; about one Juz (chapter) per day can help finish it in a month.

Social and Cultural Practices

• Muslims avoid listening to music, watching inappropriate content, or engaging in frivolous activities during Ramadan.
• Acts like charity (Zakat and Sadaqah) and performing Umrah during Ramadan are highly rewarded.