Ramadan is a period for reflection, family and generosity, consisting of a 30-day fast from sunrise to sunset every day. The Holy Month is a time to take a pause, reflect and alter everyday habits. Muslims increase spiritual and physical submission to their faith by fasting throughout the Holy Month.
But would you believe us if we told you that there will actually be two Ramadans which fall within the same year (according to the Gregorian calendar) in a short number of years. How you ask? GRAZIA breaks down all the details below.
Ramadan in 2030
Before the invention of high-powered telescopes, people observed Ramadan by using their unaided eyes to spot the new moon. When Ramadan falls depends on the lunar calendar and moon cycles. The Islamic calendar is lunar meaning that the calendar dates shift by approximately days because lunar years are shorter. What this means is that in 2030, Ramadan will fall twice within the same calendar year – first in January and then again in December. The last time there were two Ramadans in the same year was in 1997, meaning that when it happens next, 33 years will have passed.
The CEO of the Dubai Astronomy Group, Hassan Ahmed Al Hariri, previously told Gulf News that since the lunar month advances by 11 days annually, witnessing two Ramadans in a single year shouldn’t be seen as a unique occurrence.
“The solar calendar and the lunar calendar run separately from each other and are different. The solar one is fixed with the sun, while the lunar calendar is always 11 days shorter. So having two Ramadans is a natural result of having two different calendars,” Al Hariri said.
when will Ramadan fall in 2024?
While we can expect Ramadan to be observed twice in 2030, we’ve still got a way to go before that comes around. But what about next year in 2024?
Given that the date of the Holy Month moves forward approximately 10-11 days every year, Ramadan will fall around March 9, 2024 and will end around April 8, 2024.
As always, the official dates are dependent on the sighting of the moon which is determined by the UAE authorities.
