Mon Mar 17 13:00:00 UTC 2025: **Ramadan’s Global Reach: A World of Sunrise and Sunset Prayers**
NEW YORK, NY – The global observance of Ramadan is highlighted by the stark contrast between cities across the world. While families in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, are concluding their pre-dawn meal (suhoor) and preparing for Fajr prayers, their counterparts in New York City are gathering for the evening Maghrib prayer, breaking their 13-hour fast. This simultaneous beginning and ending of the daily fast across the globe underscores the truly international nature of Ramadan.
The timing of suhoor and iftar (the breaking of the fast) varies dramatically due to geographical location and time zones. As the earth rotates, millions of Muslims experience these crucial parts of their daily Ramadan observance at different times. In the Northern Hemisphere, daylight hours lengthen throughout the month, resulting in earlier suhoor and later iftar times. The opposite occurs in the Southern Hemisphere.
The examples provided illustrate the wide range: While residents of Recife, Brazil, begin their fast, those in Sydney, Australia, are concluding theirs. This pattern repeats across the globe, with Winnipeg, Canada, starting its fast as Jakarta, Indonesia, finishes; and Berkeley, California, beginning as Mumbai, India, concludes. The variation continues across diverse locations, including Fairbanks, Alaska; Anadyr, Russia; Pago Pago, American Samoa; and Nukualofa, Tonga, each experiencing the start of their fast while corresponding cities such as Karachi, Pakistan; Gaza, Palestine; Istanbul, Turkey; and Johannesburg, South Africa, respectively, are breaking their fasts. This variation also extends to Brisbane, Australia and London, UK.
Ramadan, one of Islam’s five pillars, is a month of spiritual purification, charity, and increased consciousness of God (taqwa). The daily fast is a central element of this spiritual practice.
First Piper 