Ramadan 2025

Ramadan is a spiritual month for Muslims that is marked by special observations such as fasting and nightly prayer.

This year in the New York area, many Muslims will begin observing Ramadan from sunset on Friday, February 28 and end observing the month at sunset on Saturday, March 29. The 29–30-day lunar month is commemorated with an Eid holiday celebration, falling for many on Sunday, March 30. Observation of the start and end dates may vary by one day depending on different locations and on different schools of thought within the Islamic tradition. Ramadan moves up about 11 days annually.

Many practicing Muslims observe fasting and additional nightly prayers during Ramadan. Many Muslims also commemorate certain special nights in this month. Fasting is typically observed by abstaining from food and water from dawn to sunset throughout the month of Ramadan.

For Faculty and Staff

• As noted, Ramadan is calculated to begin on Friday night, February 28, and end on Saturday, March 29.
• Students observing the fast may ask for a 10-15-minute break during class to pray and eat a snack if their class coincides with sunset. This year, for most Sunni Muslims, sunset during Ramadan will range from 5:48 p.m. at the beginning of month, to 7:18 p.m. at the end of month. Shia Muslims tend to observe their break of the fast about 15 minutes after the given sunset times.
• Due to fasting practices, some Muslim students may request religious accommodations for their academics, including alternative exam times.  
• Imam Ebad Rahman (imam@columbia.edu), Columbia’s Muslim chaplain, is available to assist faculty who receive requests for accommodations.  

For Students

• Students seeking religious accommodations for their observation of Ramadan should contact their professors as soon as possible.
• TC Religious Observance Policy

Programming

• Muslim Life at Columbia is offering a number of iftar dinners in the Earl Hall Auditorium (117th Street and Broadway) (open to CU & TC communities). Students are also welcome to join the nightly Taraweeh prayers in the same location. There will be an Eid al-Fitr prayer and celebration on campus on the morning of Sunday, March 30, 2025. 

TC Meditation/Prayer Room

• For ten years, TC has had a meditation room (Thompson 45) that is used to reflect, meditate, and/or pray. Up to six people may use it simultaneously. For safety, we require that TC individuals register, obtain the code for entry, and schedule time on the shared calendar.

For Ramadan, the College is providing an additional room for meditation/prayer from February 28 through March 29. It is located in Zankel, room 109, on the 1st floor. You do not have to reserve the room to use it and the room will not be locked. The room is provided for TC students, staff and faculty only. The room cannot be used for studying, meetings, eating, or sleeping.