The month of Ramadan could commence on the evening of Friday, Feb. 28, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon. If the moon is sighted, fasting would begin on March 1.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Hijri calendar, also known as the Islamic calendar, and is the month in which the Quran was revealed. 

Fasting from the break of dawn to sunset, reflecting on important themes and lessons in the Quran, charitable giving and deep introspection are all hallmarks of the month for Muslims all over the world. 

In Minnesota, mosques and other organizations will open their doors and set the table for iftars, the sundown meal where people look forward to breaking their fast with plates piled high with their favorite dishes. 

Usually 30 days, Ramadan’s conclusion will be met with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, tentatively expected to take place on Sunday, March 30, or Monday, March 31. 

Fasting in the Islamic tradition is from the break of dawn to sunset. For the month of Ramadan in Minnesota this year, that period will last for about 12 hours at the beginning of the month, but stretch to 14 hours as the days grow longer. For many, the shared experience of fasting strengthens their spirituality, and the refreshing iftar meals deepen their sense of community.

Islamic scholar Tamara Gray, founder of the Rabata Cultural Center, says that people go to community iftars generally for three reasons, one of them being to eat. 

“They also go to see people they haven’t seen all year. It’s really hard to make friends as adults, and one thing you need is proximity. You need a place where you’re going to run into each other. So Ramadan iftars offers an opportunity for adults to come together where otherwise life just doesn’t allow that, because of all the reasons everyone knows between work and children and family life and seasons of life, etc.,” Gray says. 

“The third reason,” she says, “is because people are lonely. That’s the hardest one to fulfill, because if you’re lonely and you show up at an iftar where everybody already has their people that they haven’t seen all year, and they’re like, ‘Yay Salam Alaikum Sister this, Brother this, so good to see you” — but [if] nobody says that to you, you’re going to feel lonelier than you felt when you first went.” 

Gray recommends that community iftar organizers set up volunteer greeters and friends to ensure no attendees feel alone. 

“I think that loneliness piece we need to work to fulfill, it does take effort, but it’s so important. The loneliness of Ramadan is different than the loneliness of regular life, because you fasted all day, you really want to join in community to feel like we’ve been doing this together. I think it’s really important that we as community leaders across the board are paying attention to those who are coming in seeking companionship or community,” she says. 

Here’s how you can celebrate Ramadan in Minnesota this year:

Ongoing events  

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One-time events

Corrections: This story has been updated to more clearly reflect the expected first date of Ramadan. The venue for the Minnesota Deaf Muslim Community Iftar has been updated.