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7 Surprising Ramadan Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

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Ramadan Kareem! Or Mubarak… whatever your preference. The Muslim holy month of fasting and good deeds has started across the world and will last around 30 days. You may have heard of it before, but there are many more Ramadan facts you should be filled in other than thinking it’s just about abstaining from food during the day.

Here are 7 Ramadan facts you may not have known:

7. It’s a trendy baby name for boys

It may not be as popular as Mohammed or Mariam, but according to BabyCenter, it’s an increasingly popular name for newborn boys. It’s perhaps most fitting if the baby is actually born in the month!

6. Fasting may be longer or shorter hours depending on where you are in the world

Fasting starts at the start of Fajr prayer and ends at Maghrib prayer– so roughly between sunrise and sunset. Most people in the Middle East will be fasting 14-15 hours this Ramadan. However, those in the Southern Hemisphere will see far fewer hours of fasting, like Santiago, Chile will fast just around 12 hours. Those observing Ramadan in Anchorage, Alaska can expect to fast around 18 hours.

5. Fasting isn’t just refraining from eating

Muslims might jokingly refer to Ramadan as their own personal “Hunger Games,” but don’t ask about the thirst. No, not even drinking water (or juice, or soda, or any liquid for that matter) is allowed until sunset.

4. Fasting in Ramadan is not the same as intermittent fasting

Whether you’re following to 20:4 method or the 16:8 method of intermittent fasting, please don’t compare your fasts to Ramadan fasting! The goal of fasting in Ramadan is not weight loss — although it might be a pleasant side effect for some. As mentioned earlier, Muslims don’t even drink fluids during their fasts, whereas intermittent fasters can typically drink water, black coffee and sometimes other zero-calorie drinks. In fact, many people will find they actually gain weight in Ramadan due to unhealthy Iftar habits, buffets and the eating of traditional fried foods like spring rolls and samosas.

Ramadan’s purpose is mores to instill good habits and remove bad ones. Muslims try to refrain from swearing, smoking and other vices in Ramadan. Also, to make you more mindful of your spirituality and to give back in charity.

 

3. It’s the month when the Holy Quran was revealed

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic or Hijri calendar, which is different from the Gregorian calendar. Before we all knew it as simply the month of fasting, it’s significance came from the Quran, the principle Islamic text, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

It’s also worth noting that the Islamic calendar follows the lunar phases, so it is slightly shorter — about 355 days– compared to 365 days in the Gregorian calendar. That’s why Ramadan starts about 10 days earlier each year.

2. There are health benefits to fasting in Ramadan

OK– so we’ve established weight gain isn’t a given benefit of fasting, given our hearty and heavy eating habits. However, much research points to some positive effects on overall health from fasting. Some studies have shown that Ramadan improves immune system function and can lower bad cholesterol levels and increase good cholesterol levels.

1. It’s totally fine to get your COVID-19 vaccination in Ramadan

Given that we’re still in the midst of a pandemic, many Muslims around the world had concerns about getting vaccinated nullifying their fasts. Ramadan prohibits anything entering the body during fasting times, but the vaccine is injected in the muscle and doesn’t provide any nutritional value. Many religious scholars and authorities, including Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, have reiterated that taking the jab is totally fine if you’re fasting.

READ NEXT:10 Recipes From Saudi Food Bloggers That Are Perfect For Iftar

Image via Laird Superfood and @skyfables

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