Today, May 17, marks the first day of fasting during Ramadan.
For Muslims taking part in Ramadan there are a very specific set of prayer times to remember.
Luckily, the East London Mosque has drawn up a timetable to help with the timings throughout the month of Ramadan.
You can view these timings below:
Yet, these times are accurate for London only. You can view prayer times for other UK cities here.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is held during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is a time for spiritual reflection, acts of charity and spending time with loved ones.
It is also a month when Muslims fast. This means no eating or drinking between sunrise and sunset, which is important during Ramadan as it allows Muslims to devote themselves further to their faith, ultimately becoming closer to Allah, or God.
The reason why Muslims fast is because it is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, the other pillars being faith, prayer, charity and making the pilgrimage to Mecca – the Holy City.
Before sunrise, Muslims eat a meal (suhoor) and then another meal (iftar) after sunset. The only people that do not have to fast during Ramadan are children, the elderly, pregnant women and those who are travelling or who are ill.
When does Ramadan start this year?
This year Ramadan began on the evening of Wednsday May 15 and ends on Thursday June 14.
Ramadan falls at a different time each year because the Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles, which means there isn’t a fixed date.
