When Do We Begin Fasting in 2024?

The month of Ramadan is eagerly awaited every year by millions of Muslims as a month filled with blessings, mercy, and forgiveness. Our longing for this month will come to an end in March 2024, and the grace of Ramadan will hopefully envelop the entire world. So, when does Ramadan begin in 2024? When is the first day of fasting? Let's take a detailed look together.

When is the first day of fasting?

According to the 2024 religious calendar published by the Directorate of Religious Affairs, the first day of fasting will begin on Monday, March 11, 2024. This means the first pre-dawn meal (sahur) will be on the night of March 10, 2024, and the first breaking of the fast (iftar) will be on Monday, March 11, 2024.

What to do on the first day of Ramadan?

The first day of Ramadan is welcomed with spiritual enthusiasm and excitement. We spend this day and the days that follow by worshiping, praying, and reading the Quran. Here are some acts of worship that can be performed on the first day of Ramadan:

Having sahur/iftar: It is important to wake up for sahur every night before fasting. The importance given by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to the pre-dawn meal is clearly evident in hadiths and practices.

“Partake in sahur, for in it there is blessing.”

It is recommended not to skip sahur and at least have a sip of water to fulfill the obligation. Those who wake up for sahur are blessed with the mercy of Allah and the angels' prayers. Additionally, the pre-dawn meal is described as "blessed sustenance." Jurists, considering these evidences, have concluded that waking up for sahur is a Sunnah.

Attending Tarawih prayers: Tarawih prayer is a strongly recommended practice for both men and women every night during Ramadan. This prayer, although not obligatory for fasting, is a specific Sunnah of Ramadan. Therefore, it is recommended for everyone, including those who cannot fast due to illness or travel, to perform Tarawih prayers.

Reading the Quran and making dua: Ramadan is known as the month of the Quran. It is important to read and understand the Quran abundantly during this month. Additionally, Ramadan is a month when prayers are accepted. We can pray to Allah for forgiveness and mercy during this month.

How many days is Ramadan fasting in 2024?

The duration of Ramadan fasting is a topic that arises during Ramadan months. We would like to share some information about this topic with you. The "Ru'yet-i Hilal" conference held in Istanbul in 1978 brought together forty religious and astronomical experts from nineteen Islamic countries. At the conference, it was decided that the sighting of the crescent moon with the naked eye or through modern astronomical methods would be the basis for determining the beginning of lunar months. However, it was also agreed that the beginning of Ramadan and Eid days determined by astronomical calculations would be accepted. With this decision, doubting the dates of Ramadan and Eid in calendars became unnecessary.

Ramadan can last either 29 or 30 days. Fasting observed in years when Ramadan lasts 29 days is still considered complete. Because what matters is fasting throughout the entire month of Ramadan. Therefore, the notion that fasting is incomplete in years when Ramadan lasts 29 days is not correct. Indeed, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) observed Ramadan fasting nine times, four of which lasted 29 days and five lasted 30 days.