Why Does Ramadan Change Every Year?
One of the most interesting aspects of Ramadan is its ever-changing timing, which often leads to questions about why it varies annually. This is a valid question why does Ramadan start at different times each year? Both Muslims and non-Muslims need to understand the reasons behind this yearly variation.
Every year, we see Ramadan shifting by 10 to 11 days, with this holy month sometimes falling in spring, other years in the middle of summer, and even in winter. Why does this happen?
Why does Ramadan change every year?
Ramadan changes every year due to the differences between the Gregorian(solar) and lunar calendars. It’s based on the lunar calendar, specifically on the sighting of the new moon, which causes the timing to vary annually.
The interesting facts of the Islamic calendar are many, one of the facts is that if the solar calendar is determined by the month of Ramadan, then it would consistently fall in the same month, but the Islamic calendar keeps changing as we said in above. Sometimes Ramadan comes in winter and sometimes in summer, so This shift allows Muslims to experience Ramadan in different seasons
Both the sun and the moon are the signs of Allah, the time is determined by the sun, for example, Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha prayers, and the determination of the months is done by the moon.
| Feature | Lunar Calendar | Solar Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Phases of the Moon | Earth’s revolution around the Sun |
| Month length | ~29.5 days | Starts and ends with a crescent moon |
| Year length | ~354 days | ~365.25 days |
| Ramadan | Starts and ends with crescent moon | (If we base it on) Fixed date (April/May) |
| Shift | Shifts ~10-12 days earlier each year | No shift |
| Seasons | Falls in all seasons over a 33-year cycle | Fixed season (Spring) |
| Calendar name | Islamic calendar | Gregorian calendar |
So, this is the table we give you for better understanding.
8 Importance of Lunar Calendar
- In the lunar calendar, the time from the sunset of one day to the sunset of the next day is called a full day and the next day begins as soon as the sun sets, This is the reason that the month of Ramadan begins as soon as the sun sets on the last date of the month of Sha’ban and the Taraweeh prayer is organized on the same night. Likewise, the night that begins at sunset on the last date of the month of Ramadan is the first night of Shawwal.
- If you forget the date in the Gregorian (CE) or Hindi calendar, you cannot find out what is the date, without asking a knowledgeable person. However, in the lunar calendar, you can know the date to observe the moon. If an ordinary person cannot guess, he can correct his guess belief by looking at the moon on the fourteenth night or at the beginning of the month.
- A month in the lunar calendar is 29 days or 30 days. If people of the whole world want to increase or decrease this number, they cannot do it because the rising and setting of the moon is not in the power of the same person, if such a movement is ever made. So the rising moon of the new month will reveal the movement issued by the people. On the contrary, the number of days of the month in the solar calendar development depends on the will of the people and it can be changed according to need.
- Every four years, one day is added to the days of February. Newspapers witnessed that in 2008, the discussion continued that this time the month of February should be declared as 30 days, but it was not implemented.
- The Islamic lunar calendar is the foundation upon which Ramadan’s timing is based. Unlike the Gregorian solar calendar, which follows the Earth’s orbit around the sun, the Islamic calendar relies on the phases of the moon.
- The lunar calendar comprises 12 months, each lasting approximately 29.5 days, making it about 11 days shorter than the solar calendar.
- The Islamic calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar, began in 622 CE when the Prophet Muhammad PBUH migrated from Mecca to Medina.
- Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha are both determined with the help of the moon. The sighting of the crescent moon marks the end of Ramadan Mubarak and the beginning of Eid ul-Fitr, while the sighting of the moon on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah signifies the start of Eid ul-Adha.
- The importance of prayer in Islam is not hidden from anyone. For the times of prayers, Allah Almighty has devised such a system that there is absolutely no need for human products and inventions.
- The time for Fajr prayer begins with the dawn of the morning.
- The asr time begins when each object’s shadow is equal to it.
- Maghrib time begins at sunset.
- And the time Isha starts at Grob e Shafaq (which means after the red color everything in the sky is dark).
Conclusion
To conclude we say that it is the beauty of the lunar calendar in which the days change earlier in every year.
We see that from the past years there are many people who are not in this world and will not spend Ramadan with us, but We are very lucky to have the blessing of Ramadan again, This holiest month is very important in life because this is the Muslim holy month and we should take it as an opportunity because in this month success in this world and the hereafter we can make it easier.
After reading this article, tell us in the comment section what are your preparations for Ramadan!
