Quran Verses About Ramadan: The holy month of Ramadan is the most sacred time of year for Muslims. During this month, Muslims fast from dawn until dusk and focus intensely on prayer, charity, community, and spiritual reflection. The revelations in the Quran provide guidance, inspiration, and insights into the significance and virtues of Ramadan.
When Is Ramadan?
The timing of Ramadan each year is determined by the lunar Islamic calendar. Ramadan falls on the ninth month of this calendar, shifting approximately 11 days earlier every year depending on when the new crescent moon is sighted. The Quran states:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
“The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it.” (2:185)
This verse establishes both the timing of Ramadan and its spiritual purpose as a period for Quranic reflection.
Rules and Rituals of Ramadan
In addition to fasting rituals, the Quran discusses other important rules and rituals associated with Ramadan including:
When to End the Fast
وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ ٱلْخَيْطُ ٱلْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ ٱلْخَيْطِ ٱلْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلصِّيَامَ إِلَى ٱلَّيْلِ ۚ
“And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the night.” (2:187)
This verse establishes sunset as the daily breaking of the fast and guides the timing of the pre-dawn meal (suhoor).
Exemptions from Fasting
أَيَّامًۭا مَّعْدُودَٰتٍۢ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۚ
“So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] – then an equal number of days [are to be made up].” (2:184)
This verse allows people who are traveling, old people, pregnant, nursing, ill, or otherwise unable to fast to forgo the fast and make up the days at a later time.
Increasing Good Deeds
In addition to abstaining from food and drink, Ramadan calls on Muslims to increase good behaviors and deeds:
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
“And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.” (2:186)
This frequently cited verse inspires Muslims to offer extra prayers and supplications during Ramadan with the knowledge that God is listening and responsive.
Meaning and Purpose of Ramadan
Beyond outlining the rituals and regulations surrounding Ramadan, the Quran provides profound insights into the deeper spiritual meanings and purposes behind this important religious observance.
Submission and Servitude to God (Allah)
Fasting during Ramadan serves as a reminder of human submission and servitude to God. The act of fasting requires self-sacrifice and restraint of bodily pleasures as an act of devotion:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.” (2:183)
Cultivating Righteousness
As noted in the previous verse, the overall goal of fasting is spiritual purification and growth in righteousness:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
“Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwa [righteousness, God-consciousness].” (2:183)
By sacrificing ordinary comforts, the fasting person works to elevate their moral character and consciousness of God.
Forgiveness of Sins
In addition to cultivating righteousness, Ramadan is a particularly auspicious time for repentance and seeking forgiveness:
۞ وَسَارِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍۢ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِى ٱلسَّرَّآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَٱلْكَـٰظِمِينَ ٱلْغَيْظَ وَٱلْعَافِينَ عَنِ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
“And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous. Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good.” (3:133–134)
These verses are often interpreted as referring to spending and pardoning during the blessed month of Ramadan as acts that earn Divine forgiveness.
The Night of Power
Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the Quran and coincides with Laylat al-Qadr, or the Night of Power, described as:
لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍۢ تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍۢ
“Better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.” (97:3–4)
This profoundly holy night for worship and the revelation of the Quran gives Ramadan its high spiritual status.
Uniting the Ummah
As in many religious traditions, ritualized fasting serves to bring communities together around a shared experience. The Quran highlights this community-building virtue, referring to fasting collectively as an act undertaken by “those before you” or “you who have believed.” Shared spiritual rituals like communal iftar meals and intensified mosque services through Ramadan strengthen bonds across the worldwide Muslim community or ummah.
Conclusion of Quran Verses About Ramadan
The month of Ramadan stands alone in its religious significance and spiritual benefits within the Islamic faith. Beyond outlining the timing and rituals central to observing Ramadan, the Quran provides profound insights into the deeper meaning behind fasting and the holy month itself. Drawing the worldwide Muslim community together around shared experiences of self-sacrifice and spiritual reflection, the Quran Verses About Ramadan offers a path toward righteousness, Divine reward, and forgiveness of sins. The verses revealed in the Quran offer guidance and inspiration to make the most of this special religious observance.
