Why is ramadan earlier every year

But not everyone thinks that's such a swell idea — especially rival countries like Pakistan and Iran, which balk at the idea of treating Saudi Arabia as the ultimate authority on anything having to do with Islam. All this means that each year, Muslims around the world get to experience the delightful lunacy of "moon-sighting fighting.

For the most part, no. Both Sunni and Shia Muslims fast during Ramadan. But there are some minor differences — for instance, Sunnis break their daily fast at sunset , when the sun is no longer visible on the horizon but there's still light in the sky , whereas Shia wait until the redness of the setting sun has completely vanished and the sky is totally dark. Shia also celebrate an additional holiday within the month of Ramadan that Sunnis do not.

For three days — the 19th, 20th, and 21st days of Ramadan — Shia commemorate the martyrdom of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed who was both the revered fourth caliph of Sunni Islam and the first "legitimate" imam leader of Shia Islam.

Ali was assassinated in the fierce civil wars that erupted following the death of Mohammed over who should lead the Muslim community in his stead. On the 19th day of the month of Ramadan, while Ali was worshipping at a mosque in Kufa, Iraq, an assassin from a group of rebels who opposed his leadership fatally struck him with a poisoned sword.

Ali died two days later. Ali is a hugely important figure in Shia Islam. His tomb in nearby Najaf, Iraq, is the third-holiest site in Shia Islam, and millions of Shia make a pilgrimage there every year. Although Sunnis revere Ali as one of the four "rightly guided" caliphs who ruled after Mohammed's death, they do not commemorate his death or make a pilgrimage to his tomb. In some Muslim countries, it is a crime to eat and drink in public during the day in the month of Ramadan, even if you're not Muslim.

Of course, this is not the case in the United States, where we enjoy freedom of and freedom from religion. And most American Muslims, myself included, don't expect the non-Muslims around us to radically change their behavior to accommodate our religious fast during Ramadan. I've had friends and coworkers who have chosen to fast along with me out of solidarity or just because it seems "fun" , and that was sweet of them, but it's not something I ever expect people to do.

Plus, they usually last about three days before they decide solidarity is overrated and being thirsty for 15 hours is not remotely "fun. All that said, there are things you can do, and not do, to make things a little easier for friends or colleagues who happen to be fasting for Ramadan. If you share an office with someone fasting, maybe eat your delicious, juicy cheeseburger in the office break room rather than at your desk, where your poor, suffering Muslim coworkers will have to smell it and salivate if they even have enough moisture left in their bodies to salivate at that point.

Try to remember not to offer them a bite or a sip of what you're eating, because it's sometimes hard for us to remember that we're fasting and easy to absentmindedly accept and eat that Lay's potato chip you just offered us.

But if you do, it's okay. We're not going to get mad or be offended unless you're doing it on purpose, in which case, what is wrong with you? If you're having a dinner party and you want to invite your Muslim friends, try to schedule it after sunset so they can eat.

Muslims don't drink alcohol or eat pork, but we usually don't mind being around it. Contrary to popular belief , we are not scared of or allergic to pork; we just don't eat it.

It's not like we're vampires and pork is garlic. But do let us know if there's alcohol or pork in something so we don't accidentally consume it. If you want to wish your Muslim friends or acquaintances a happy Ramadan or happy Eid al-Fitr, you're welcome to just say, "Happy Ramadan! Even something as simple as learning one of those expressions and saying it with a smile to your Muslim friends will go a long way toward making them feel comfortable and welcome.

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Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email. Workers disinfect the Blue Mosque before its reopening on the last day of Eid al-Fitr in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 26, , amid the Covid pandemic. A Muslim family gathers at the table for the iftar meal after sunset during Ramadan on May 13, , in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

If you Google it, you'll see there's a little disclaimer under Google's answer that says "Dates may vary": That also has to do with the moon — as well as disagreements about science, history, and tradition, plus a bit of geopolitical rivalry. If it's been a while since your high school astronomy class, here's a reminder of what the phases of the moon look like: The phases of the moon. The tomb of Imam Ali in Najaf, Iraq.

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Ramadan is a major global event, but just when, exactly, it begins is a matter of some debate. The month-long holiday is observed principally in Muslim-majority countries in Africa and Asia but also by the believers around the world, including the roughly 3.

During Ramadan, from sunrise to sunset, observant Muslims with some exceptions, mostly health related are forbidden to eat or drink or smoke, or engage in sexual activity to purify their thoughts and increase their devotion to God. One of the five pillars of Islam, Ramadan is the month during which Allah is said to have revealed the first verses of the Koran, the Islamic holy book, to the Prophet Muhammad.

At sunset each day, the faithful are permitted to break their fast with a meal called iftar , thus ending what can be a grueling stretch of hours without food and water—especially when Ramadan falls during the long days of summer, as it does this year. Ramadan comes at a different time every year because it is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, a date-keeping system based on lunar cycles, unlike the Gregorian calendar the one used by most of the world, including the U.

A new month begins with the appearance of the new moon, or the crescent moon, and ends with the next appearance of a new moon.