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Ramadan 2027

Ramadan 2027

Ramadan in United States

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Washington, United States

Sehri 5:26 AM
Iftar 7:31 PM
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Cities — United States

Muslim populationEstimated around 1% of the population
Established presencePresent since the era of slavery; organised communities from the early 20th century
Main originsSouth Asia, the Arab world, African American communities, West Africa
Calculation methodISNA (15°) is the most widely used
Major mosquesIslamic Center of America (Dearborn), Islamic Center of Washington

Ramadan in the United States

Estimates put the American Muslim population at roughly one per cent of the country — the US census does not ask about religion, so every figure is an estimate. The community is unusually diverse: no single ethnic origin forms a majority, and African American Muslims, South Asian, Arab and West African communities are all substantial.

The presence is older than often assumed. A significant proportion of enslaved West Africans brought to North America were Muslim, and organised communities and mosques date to the early twentieth century, with the mosque in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, among the oldest still standing.

Calculation and moon sighting

Most American mosques use the ISNA method, with a 15° angle for Fajr and Isha, which produces noticeably later Fajr times than the 18° methods used in much of the world. Communities differ on moon sighting: some follow local sighting, some follow the Fiqh Council of North America’s calculation-based approach, and some follow Saudi announcements. A one-day difference between two mosques in the same city is not unusual.

The month in practice

Iftar at the mosque is the centre of the month for most communities, and interfaith iftars hosted for neighbours, colleagues and civic groups are common. Ramadan food drives and zakat campaigns run through organisations such as Islamic Relief USA and local mosque networks.

Because Ramadan is not a public holiday, arranging adjusted work hours, prayer space and school accommodations in advance makes a considerable difference — and most employers respond well when asked early.

Hadith about Ramadan

1

مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ

Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 38 — Sahih Muslim 760

2

إِذَا دَخَلَ رَمَضَانُ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ وَسُلْسِلَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ

When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the devils are chained.

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1899 — Sahih Muslim 1079

3

كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلَّا الصِّيَامَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ

Allah said: Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting; it is for Me, and I shall reward it.

Reference: Hadith Qudsi — Sahih al-Bukhari 1904

4

لَا يَزَالُ النَّاسُ بِخَيْرٍ مَا عَجَّلُوا الْفِطْرَ

The people will remain upon good as long as they hasten to break the fast.

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1957 — Sahih Muslim 1098

5

مَنْ فَطَّرَ صَائِمًا كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْقُصُ مِنْ أَجْرِ الصَّائِمِ شَيْئًا

Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast shall have a reward like his, without any decrease in the fasting person’s reward.

Reference: Jami at-Tirmidhi 807

6

مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ حَاجَةٌ فِي أَنْ يَدَعَ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ

Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, Allah has no need of his giving up his food and drink.

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1903

7

لِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ فَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ فِطْرِهِ وَفَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ لِقَاءِ رَبِّهِ

The fasting person has two joys: a joy when he breaks his fast, and a joy when he meets his Lord.

Reference: Sahih Muslim 1151 — Sunan Ibn Majah 1746

8

إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ بَابًا يُقَالُ لَهُ الرَّيَّانُ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ الصَّائِمُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

In Paradise there is a gate called Ar-Rayyan, through which those who fast will enter on the Day of Resurrection.

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1896 — Sahih Muslim 1152

9

مَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ

Whoever stands in prayer on Laylat al-Qadr out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 2014 — Sahih Muslim 760

10

تَسَحَّرُوا فَإِنَّ فِي السَّحُورِ بَرَكَةً

Take the pre-dawn meal, for indeed there is a blessing in Suhoor.

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1923 — Sahih Muslim 1095

Sehri & Iftar Dua

Dua for Sehri (Suhoor)

وَبِصَوْمِ غَدٍ نَّوَيْتُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ

Transliteration: Wa bisawmi ghadin nawaytu min shahri Ramadan

Translation: I intend to keep the fast for the month of Ramadan.

Reference: Widely circulated wording. The established basis is the intention before Fajr — Sunan Abi Dawud 2454

Dua for Iftar

اَللَّهُمَّ اِنِّى لَكَ صُمْتُ وَبِكَ اٰمَنْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَعَلٰى رِزْقِكَ اَفْطَرْتُ

Transliteration: Allahumma inni laka sumtu wa bika aamantu wa ‘alayka tawakkaltu wa ‘ala rizqika aftartu

Translation: O Allah! I fasted for You, and I believe in You, and I put my trust in You, and I break my fast with Your sustenance.

Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 2358 — chain is mursal, graded weak. The best-authenticated iftar dua is “Dhahaba az-zama’u…” (Sunan Abi Dawud 2357, hasan)