Ramadan 2026: One Heart, One Ummah – Dates, Guidance, and Ways to Give

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is the most sacred time of year for over two billion Muslims. During the holy month of Ramadan, healthy and able Muslims fast from dawn until dusk, abstaining from food and drink, as well as harmful actions, anger and dishonesty. We are encouraged to deepen our Ibadah through increased prayers, reading the Qur’an, and helping those less fortunate.

More than just abstaining from food, Ramadan is a divine opportunity for spiritual purification, self-reflection, and developing empathy for those in need. We are urged to refrain from sinful behaviour and be more patient. The hunger we feel during our fast is a small glimpse of the daily struggles that millions of our brothers and sisters face year-round.

When is Ramadan 2026 ? Key Dates and Timetable

Ramadan officially begins when the Islamic month of Sha’ban ends, and commences upon sighting the new moon. Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the moon, and shifts forward approximately 11 days each year due to the lunar cycle.

Ramadan 2026 Probable Dates: Evening of 17–18 February 2026 (first fast likely 18–19 February); Eid al-Fitr likely 19–20 March 2026, depending on local sighting and month length. 

• Expected Ramadan 2026 Start Date UK: Evening of Tuesday, 17th February 2026 
• Expected First Ramadan 2026 Fast: Wednesday, 18th February 2026 or Thursday, 19th February 2026. 
• Expected Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power) Date: Although we do not know the exact day Laylat al-Qadr falls on, the 27^th night is expected to be Sunday, 15th March or Monday, 16th March 2026. 
• Expected End of Ramadan 2026: Evening of Thursday, 19th March 2026. 
• Expected Eid al-Fitr 2026 Date: Friday, 20th March 2026. 

Our beloved Prophetﷺ said: “Whoever feeds a fasting person will have a reward like that of the fasting person, without any reduction in his reward.” –[Tirmidhi].

The Spiritual Significance of Ramadan 2026

Ramadan is the sacred month that the first verses of the Holy Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Muhammadﷺ, marking a period of profound spiritual significance and guidance. Ramadan is a divine invitation from Allah to renew our Emaan, deepen our spirituality, and strengthen our connection to our Creator.

Sawm, or fasting, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. This Pillar draws us closer to Allah and reminds us of the suffering of those less fortunate. By sacrificing food or drink from sunrise until sunset, we purify our bodies, minds and souls, seeking Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.

However, Ramadan is about more than just abstaining from food and drink: it is a spiritual revolution of our hearts. It is a time when the gates of mercy are wide open, where every act of kindness is magnified, and every deed is multiplied. This month especially, our collective efforts have the power to transform lives. 

We should strive to embody the characteristics of Sabr (patience), Shukr (gratitude), and Taqwa (God-consciousness), aligning our actions and intentions with the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah. Every pound donated, every prayer offered, and every hand extended in help is a selfless act of worship, bringing us closer to Allah.

The Prophet Muhammadﷺ said: “The best of people are those that bring most benefit to the rest of mankind.” –[Daraqutni]. 

Fasting in Ramadan : A Sacred Pillar of Islam

Fasting, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is compulsory for every able Muslim during Ramadan. This sacred act provides an opportunity to gain control over our needs, desires and distractions, allowing us to focus on reflection and our ultimate purpose– to worship Allah. Fasting solely for the sake of Allah is a unique act of devotion that carries a special reward.

As narrated by Abu Huraira, the Prophetﷺ said: “(Allah said), ‘Every good deed of Adam’s son is for him except fasting; it is for Me. and I shall reward (the fasting person) for it.’ Verily, the smell of the mouth of a fasting person is better to Allah than the smell of musk.” –[Bukhari].

Fasting during Ramadan teaches us discipline, patience, and empathy. It deepens our appreciation for the immense blessings of healthy food and clean water. As we refrain from eating and drinking, we are reminded of our brothers and sisters around the world who face involuntary hunger throughout the year. While we count down the hours until iftar, millions count the days until they might have their next meal. 

How On Ummah Can Make a Difference This Ramadan 2026

A Month that Unites the Ummah

Ramadan is a time of introspection, compassion, and action. It is a month that realigns our perspective towards an Akhirah-centric mindset, where seeking the pleasure and mercy of Allaah becomes our ultimate goal. We achieve this through compassion, an open heart, and an outstretched hand, listening to what He has commanded and striving to obey.

Wealth is not the measure of a person’s sincerity or impact. Meaningful change begins with a sincere intention, even if it is with a small amount. It only takes One Heart to reach the hearts of the Ummah.

What One Heart can do this Ramadan

• Imagine a world where hunger does not define a family’s Ramadan.
•  Imagine a world where a child’s day is not defined by the search for water.
•  Imagine a world where those facing loss are not left to face it alone.

 This Ramadan, it only takes One Heart to strengthen One Ummah.

One Heart that Feeds a Family

The reason we fast as Muslims is because Allaah has commanded us to do so. One of the blessings of fasting is that it allows us to appreciate food and develop empathy for those who go without. By experiencing hunger, we share in the reality of those who have less. When we open our fast at Iftar, we thank Allaah for His blessings and remember those less fortunate in our Duʿa.

For many families around the world, hunger is not limited to Ramadan. Long before the month begins, they are already struggling to find their next meal. For them, fasting is not a choice. It is a daily lived reality before, during, and after Ramadan. These are mothers, fathers, grandparents, and children whose lives are shaped by ongoing food insecurity and malnutrition.

This Ramadan 2026, One Heart can help feed one family. By giving just £40, you can help provide food packs that support a family of up to five people with two meals a day for an entire month. Through our Global Food Aid programme, One Ummah distributes food packs and essential nutrition across more than 19 countries, including Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria, and Bangladesh, restoring dignity and nourishment where hunger remains a daily reality.

One Heart that Protects a Future

What is Ramadan like for families who have little or no access to clean water? For millions of people around the world, even the most basic daily acts are shaped by scarcity. The absence of safe water affects health, dignity, and the ability to live with ease, especially during a month centred around fasting, worship, and community.

Water is essential to life. It sustains families, protects health, and allows children to grow without the daily burden of preventable illness. When access to clean water is secured, it lays the foundation for stronger households and more resilient communities, protecting the future of the Ummah at its most basic level.

This Ramadan, be the One Heart that brings lasting benefit through water. For £250, you can help install a hand pump that provides clean water to families or small communities of neighbouring homes. Through One Ummah, these hand pumps offer a sustainable source of water that supports daily life, improves health, and serves as a continuous charity for those who give.

One Heart that Responds in Crisis

For years, we have witnessed the devastation faced by the people of Gaza. While we may be separated by distance, our hearts remain deeply connected to our Palestinian brothers and sisters who continue to endure loss, hardship, and uncertainty.

Families in Gaza urgently need food, clean water, medical aid, shelter, winter supplies, and necessities. As conditions worsen, many are left exposed to the elements, with makeshift shelters offering little protection against harsh weather. For countless families, survival depends on immediate humanitarian support.

This Ramadan, be the One Heart that responds in times of crisis. One Ummah has been working in Gaza for many years, delivering lifesaving aid to families affected by ongoing conflict. Through your support, we can provide essential assistance with dignity, offering relief, hope, and solidarity to those who need it most.

Fulfilling Obligations: Fidya and Kaffarah in Ramadan 2026

Fidya When Fasting is not Possible

For some of us, fasting in Ramadan is not possible due to old age or long-term illness. In His mercy, Allaah has not burdened such individuals beyond their capacity. Instead, He has provided a way to remain connected to the spirit and reward of Ramadan through Fidya.

Fidya allows those unable to fast to feed those in need for each missed day, turning personal hardship into nourishment for others. It is an act of compassion, dignity, and worship that ensures no one is excluded from the blessings of Ramadan.

Through One Ummah, your Fidya is distributed as food to families facing hunger, fulfilling this obligation correctly while supporting the wider Ummah with care and transparency.

Kaffarah Fulfilling a Serious Obligation

Kaffarah is due when a fast in Ramadan is deliberately broken without a valid reason. It is a serious obligation that reflects Islam’s emphasis on accountability, sincerity, and rectification.

By fulfilling Kaffarah, a believer restores what was broken through an act of service to others, feeding those in need as a means of seeking Allaah’s forgiveness and pleasure. It is not about punishment, but about responsibility and returning to Him with humility.

When you give your Kaffarah through One Ummah, it is used to provide food to those who rely on daily aid for survival, transforming a personal obligation into relief for the Ummah.

One Heart can Change a Life this Ramadan

Ramadan reminds us that we are never alone. Our worship, our charity, and our intentions are all woven into something greater than ourselves. One Ummah, bound by faith and compassion.

Whether you choose to feed a family, quench the thirst of children, respond to crisis, or fulfil an obligation, every act given for the sake of Allaah carries weight. No gesture is too small when it comes from a sincere heart.

This Ramadan, let your heart be among those that give, care, and respond, seeking His pleasure and strengthening the Ummah together.

Join the Ummah This Ramadan 2026 – Act Now

Together, as One Ummah, we have the power to transform lives and uplift entire communities. Let this Ramadan be when we truly embody the brotherhood our Prophetﷺ envisioned.  Make your fast count twice – once for Ibadah, and once for saving a life. Share your blessings with those in need, and show them they are not forgotten

Feed a family
Quench thirst
Support Gaza
Pay Fidya
Pay Kaffarah

It only takes One Heart to change a life.