A man prays near the Dome of the Rock shrine at the Aqsa mosque compound in the old city of Jerusalem on the first Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on February 20, 2026. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP via Getty Images)
AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images
Texas is home to hundreds of thousands of Muslims. According to the World Population Review, there are more than 300,000 Muslims in Texas.
Muslims in Texas, along with millions of others around the world, have begun observing Ramadan, a month of fasting, spirituality, and reflection.
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The holiday is celebrated on different dates each year. Because the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, Ramadan begins about 11 days earlier each year on the Gregorian calendar. The exact date is determined by the sighting of the new moon. The first day of Ramadan in Mecca this year was Feb. 18.
Fasting can last for 29 or 30 days, depending on when the moon, signifying the start of the next month, is spotted.
Here is what you should know about the Islamic holiday.
How is the start of Ramadan determined?
According to Al Jazeera, Ramadan is determined by the Islamic lunar calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar, which is based on the phases of the moon. Here’s how Ramadan is determined:
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- The Islamic calendar consists of 12 lunar months, with each month lasting between 29 and 30 days, depending on the moon’s sighting.
- The beginning of Ramadan is marked by the sighting of the new moon (hilal). This sighting can be done either by the naked eye or through astronomical calculations.
- The sighting usually involves religious authorities or committees who announce the start of Ramadan based on the moon’s visibility.
What is Ramadan?
Muslims believe that Ramadan is the month when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over 1,400 years ago. During this sacred month, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and engaging in sexual relations from just before the sunrise prayer, Fajr, until the sunset prayer, Maghrib.
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The purpose of fasting is to develop a heightened sense of “taqwa,” or consciousness of God.
Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, alongside the declaration of faith, daily prayers, giving to charity, and, if physically and financially able, undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan?
Muslims who have reached puberty and who are physically capable will fast from sunrise to sunset. Fasting not only means abstaining from food and drink, but also from sexual relations and ill behavior. Those who are sick or traveling are exempt from fasting.
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“The idea is to cultivate awareness of God. Taqwa in Arabic,” Imam Ebad Rahman, Religious Life Associate for Muslim Life at Columbia University told USA TODAY.
During Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to learn more about the teachings of the Quran, with some even challenging themselves to complete reading the religious text in its entirety.
What are the last 10 nights of Ramadan?
The last ten nights of Ramadan are considered to be especially sacred, with the holiest night, Laylat Al-Qadr, falling on one of those nights.
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It’s not known exactly when Laylat al-Qadr, known as the “Night of Power,” will occur, but many believe it most likely falls on any of the odd nights in the last ten nights of Ramadan. Good deeds are believed to be significantly multiplied on that night, and Muslims may spend the night in reflection, prayer and other acts of worship.
When does Ramadan end?
According to Muslimaid.org, the holy holiday will end on March 30.
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What is Eid al-Fitr 2026?
Eid al-Fitr, a religious holiday, marks the end of Ramadan. Muslims honor the special day by listening to a special prayer and sermon the morning of Eid. As part of the tradition, parents, relatives or friends give young children various gifts such as new clothes or money. It is expected to take place on or before April 9.
