Life
Updated: April 12, 2021

When Does Ramadan 2021 Start In Nigeria?

By Ridwan Yusuf
April 06, 2021
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In the next few days, Muslims across the globe will be marking the glorious month of Ramadan. Ramadan 2021.

Nigerian Muslims are not exempted. The start-date across countries of the world only varies due to time differences.

AllNews reports that Ramadan is integral to the Islamic faith and sees Muslims all over the world commemorate the occasion through reflection and celebration.

Ramadan is observed by Muslims as a month of fasting and this year’s Ramadan will In Shaa Allah take place from Tuesday, the 13th of April to Wednesday, the 12th of May, 2021 although the exact dates depend on the sighting of the moon.

All you need to know about Ramadan 2021:

When does Ramadan 2021 commence?

As the Islamic calendar is based around the lunar cycle, Ramadan rotates by approximately ten days each year.

This year Ramadan will most likely begin on the evening of Tuesday 13 April and most probably end on Wednesday 12 May.

The Holy month of Ramadan

Ramadan is held during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is a time for spiritual reflection, acts of charity and spending time with loved ones.

It is also a month when Muslims fast. This means they don’t eat or drink between sunrise and sunset, which is important during Ramadan as it allows them to devote themselves further to their faith, ultimately becoming closer to Almighty Allah.

The reason why Muslims fast is because Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, the other pillars being faith, prayer, charity and making the pilgrimage to Mecca – the Holy City.

Before sunrise, Muslims will have a meal (suhoor) and another meal (iftar) after sunset. The only people that do not have to fast during Ramadan are children, the elderly, pregnant women and those who are travelling or who are ill.

What happens when Ramadan ends?

Eid al-Fitr, also called the "Festival of Breaking the Fast" is a celebration that marks the end of Ramadan. This year, it will begin at the first sight of the new moon around mid-May.

When does Eid al-Fitr happen?

The Islamic calendar is determined by moon phases making each month last either 29 or 30 days.

Islamic years span on average between 354 and 355 days depending on the lunar calendar.

When a crescent moon is spotted during Ramadan, it marks the beginning of the month of Shawwal and signals the first day of Eid al-Fitr, the feast that follows Ramadan.