Ramadan holds great significance in the Islamic calendar. It is a time to strip away distractions and reconnect with the Creator of everything.
Ramadan 2026 in UK is expected to begin on 17 February, depending on the moon sighting. The month will likely conclude around 16 March, with Eid al-Fitr celebrations beginning on Tuesday, 17 March.
Different mosques and Islamic organisations across the UK may begin Ramadan on slightly different days, depending on whether they follow local or international moon sightings.
The UK has around 4 million Muslims from different backgrounds. Each Muslim has its own way to express their faith. This Ramadan guide aims to help all Muslims in the country prepare for the holy month.
Essential Ramadan Details Explained
These are the essential details every Muslim should know about Ramadan:
Who Must/Should Not Fast
Every adult Muslim who has reached puberty and has a healthy mind must fast. Many families encourage older children to try fasting for part of the day or certain days of the week to build the habit gradually.
The traveller on a long journey has permission to break their fast, but they must make it up later. Older people with permanent health problems have a different rule. For instance, chronically ill people who cannot fast without serious harm should feed a needy person for each day missed. This practice is called fidya.
A sick person with a temporary illness should wait until they recover. Later, they should make up for the missed days.
Suhoor & Iftar Routines
Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal before the fast begins, carries blessings beyond its nutritional value. The Prophet (PBUH) called it a blessed meal and encouraged Muslims not to abandon it.
In the UK during the first half of March 2026, Fajr will arrive between 4:10 AM and 4:55 AM. This is the time to have your pre-dawn meal, recite Quran, and offer Fajr prayer.
The food itself does not need to be over the top. The Prophet (PBUH) mentioned dates and water as sufficient. But you need to eat enough to sustain you through the long day. Choose slow-releasing carbohydrates like oats or proteins from eggs or yoghurt. Drink plenty of water.
Iftar, the moment of breaking your fast, carries its own spiritual weight. The Prophet (PBUH) would break his fast with dates and water, then perform maghrib prayer.
In the UK during March, Maghrib will fall around 6:00 PM. Break your fast with gratitude and remember those who face hunger every day with no food available.
Taraweeh Prayers
Muslims gather for Taraweeh after the Isha prayer each night of Ramadan. The word “Taraweeh” means “to rest and relax.” It refers to the brief pauses taken between every 4 rakats of prayer.
Over the course of Ramadan, many mosques aim to complete a full Quran recitation in Taraweeh prayer. Different mosques follow different traditions regarding Taraweeh.
Some complete 8 rakats, while others complete 20 rakats. Both approaches have a basis in Islamic tradition, so neither is more correct than the other.
Recommended Acts of Worship on Laylat al-Qadr
Somewhere within the last ten nights of Ramadan lies Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power.
The Quran describes it as better than a thousand months.
Think about that for a moment. A single night’s blessings surpass 83 years of worship. This is the night when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Heaven’s gates open wide and angels descend to earth in numbers beyond counting. The Prophet (PBUH) indicated it falls on an odd night but did not mention the exact night. He encouraged us to seek Laylat al-Qadr throughout the last ten nights.
The Prophet’s wife, Aisha (RA), asked him what she should recite on this night. He taught her this supplication:
اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعفُ عني
“O Allah, You are the Most Forgiving, You love forgiveness, so forgive me.”
Beyond this supplication, spend the night in whatever worship draws you closest to Allah.
That might be extra prayers, long prostrations where you pour out your heart, and Quran recitation with reflection on its meanings.
Zakat in Ramadan
Zakat purifies your wealth by sharing a portion of it with the needy. There are two main types of Zakat: one is due annually on your wealth, and the other is specific to Ramadan and Eid.
Zakat on wealth is one of Islam’s five pillars. If your wealth exceeds a minimum threshold, the nisab, for a full lunar year, you must pay 2.5% of it in Zakat.
Eligible wealth includes cash, savings, gold and silver, business inventory, and investment assets. Your home, car, furniture, debt, and personal possessions do not count towards Zakat. The nisab threshold is traditionally calculated based on 87.48 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver. In the UK, Silver Nisab is approximately £1,100, and Gold Nisab is approximately £10,300.
Zakat al-Mal becomes due whenever your wealth first exceeds nisab and remains above it over a lunar year. Many Muslims choose to pay their annual Zakat in Ramadan for a multiplied reward.
Zakat al-Fitr is tied to Ramadan and Eid. This is a small obligatory charity every Muslim must pay before Eid prayer. It is meant to help the poorest community members celebrate Eid with dignity. The amount of Zakat al-Fitr is traditionally measured as 2.5 to 3 kilograms of wheat, barley, dates, or rice. Most scholars allow paying the equivalent cash value.
Final Thoughts
This is our Ramadan 2026 guide for UK based Muslims. The bottom line is that Ramadan gives you an opportunity for a spiritual reset every year. For those observing Ramadan while managing work, studies, family responsibilities, or health challenges, remember that Allah sees your struggle. He values your sincere effort regardless of how it compares to others’ observance. So, keep putting in effort even if you don’t see immediate results. Allah rewards consistency, and Ramadan is the perfect opportunity to build that consistency.
