Ramadan (Ramzan), the month of fasting, is which month of the Islamic calendar?

Ramadan (also spelt Ramzan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the holiest month of the year for Muslims, during which they observe a fast (sawm or roza) from dawn to sunset every day.

The Islamic calendar (Hijri calendar) is a lunar calendar of 12 months, each beginning with the sighting of the new moon. Since the lunar year is about 354 days long, about 11 days shorter than the solar year, Ramadan and other Islamic festivals move about 11 days earlier every year in the Gregorian calendar, and they occur in different seasons over the years. The calendar begins with the Hijra, the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE.

Ramadan is believed to be the month in which the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the angel Jibril (Gabriel). The night of this revelation, Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power), is believed to fall on one of the last ten odd-numbered nights of Ramadan and is regarded as the holiest night of the year.

During Ramadan, adult Muslims who are healthy do not eat, drink or smoke from dawn to sunset. The fast is begun with a pre-dawn meal called "sehri" (suhoor) and broken at sunset with a meal called "iftar", usually starting with dates and water. Muslims spend more time in prayer, recite the Quran, offer special night prayers (taraweeh), give charity (zakat and sadaqah) and try to avoid bad behaviour and thoughts. The fast teaches self-discipline, patience, gratitude and sympathy for the poor and hungry. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, the "festival of breaking the fast", celebrated on the first day of the 10th month, Shawwal.

Why not the other options?

• ✗1st month is Muharram, whose 10th day is Ashura.
• ✗7th month is Rajab.
• ✗12th month is Dhul Hijjah, the month of the Hajj and Eid al-Adha.