March 5, 2026, 6:50 a.m. ET
- In Ohio, Muslims observing Ramadan will find their daily fasting period extended due to the upcoming daylight saving time in the U.S.
- For certain Muslim individuals, the fasting duration will lengthen from approximately 12 hours to nearly 13 hours once clocks are moved forward.
- Ramadan’s annual schedule changes because the Islamic calendar operates on a lunar cycle, leading it to progress through every season over a 33-year span.
- This specific Ramadan marks the final instance it will coincide with daylight saving time until 2057.
Across the globe, Muslims are currently midway through the sacred month of Ramadan. For those in Ohio, daily fasting presently lasts about 12 hours; however, these hours are set to change as daylight saving time approaches.
What will be the duration of the Muslim fast after daylight saving time begins? And how frequently has Ramadan coincided with this change? Here’s an overview of the key details.
Daylight Saving Time to Alter Fasting Durations
Throughout Ramadan 2026, those observing the fast north of the equator will find that the daily fasting period commences slightly earlier and concludes a bit later. As daylight saving time is set to begin in Ohio and the wider United States within days, the fasting schedule for Ramadan will be adjusted mid-month.
According to Islamic Finder, on February 18, which marked the first complete day of Ramadan, Muslims in the Columbus region observed a fast that started around 6:06 a.m. and concluded at 6:12 p.m.
Once daylight saving time commences on March 8, the fasting period will extend to nearly 13 hours. As per an Islamic Finder chart, Fajr, the dawn prayer, is scheduled for 6:42 a.m., while Maghrib, the sunset prayer that marks the end of the fast, will be at 7:31 p.m.
Toward the conclusion of Ramadan, Fajr will occur at 6:24 a.m. and Maghrib at 7:43 p.m., meaning Muslims in the United States will be fasting for significantly more than 13 hours.
Frequency of Ramadan’s Overlap with Daylight Saving Time
Each year, Ramadan shifts approximately 10-12 days earlier in the Gregorian calendar. This occurs because the Islamic calendar operates on a lunar cycle, which is about 11 days shorter than the solar year. The commencement and conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan are determined by sightings of the crescent moon, guided by this lunar calendar.
In addition to Ramadan 2026, the two preceding Ramadans also fell during daylight saving time. Notably, Ramadan 2024 commenced concurrently with daylight saving time in 2024.
Ramadan completes its cycle through all seasons approximately every 33 years. This iteration of Ramadan marks the final overlap with daylight saving time until Ramadan in 2057.
Variations in Ramadan Fasting Hours Globally
As reported by Al Jazeera, the duration of fasting for Muslims observing Ramadan can range from 11.5 to 15.5 hours, contingent on their geographical location. This variation occurs because some regions experience shorter daylight hours, while others have longer ones.
In the Northern Hemisphere, spring daylight hours progressively lengthen, which means the duration of fasting increases daily after the commencement of daylight saving time, leading up to the spring equinox. Consequently, Muslims in certain regions might face almost 16 hours of daylight fasting before Ramadan concludes, whereas those in other areas could observe fasts of 12 hours or fewer by the holy month’s end.
For Muslims in Ohio this year, the daily Ramadan fast will initially be up to 12 hours. However, following the start of daylight saving time, these fasting periods will ultimately extend to 13 hours. As the hours shift, some observant Muslims may need to adjust their Ramadan routines, given that fasting commences at dawn and concludes at sunset.