Why Are Ramadan Fasting Times Changing This Year?

Lubna Turaani, a 26-year-old nurse and student in Virginia, has spent weeks meticulously planning. She understands that her established routine will abruptly change when Daylight Saving Time occurs mid-Ramadan. To prepare, she has already canceled her gym membership temporarily and precisely determined her iftar meals for the initial two weeks of the month. This level of careful foresight is being mirrored by millions of American Muslims this year.

This year, Ramadan commences around February 17th and concludes by mid-March. Consequently, when U.S. clocks advance an hour on March 8th, the daily fasting schedule will abruptly alter, upsetting established routines and creating an uncommon situation for individuals, families, and students observing the holy month.

The Islamic Calendar Explained

Unlike the solar-based Gregorian calendar used for most global civil functions, the Islamic calendar follows lunar cycles. Imam Farhan Siddiqi, Resident Imam at Virginia’s Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, clarifies the difference: “The [lunar calendar] is approximately 10 days shorter than the solar calendar. Due to this 10-day difference, the months advance by 10 days annually.” 

Consequently, Ramadan shifts through all seasons over approximately a 33-year period. This leads to it sometimes occurring in summer, marked by extended, hot days and delayed sunsets, and in other years, in winter, with briefer, more tolerable fasts. For the Northern Hemisphere in 2026, Ramadan falls during late winter and early spring, which would typically offer a moderate fasting experience. However, Daylight Saving Time introduces a complication.

The adjustment is simple yet impactful. For example, during the initial part of Ramadan this year, a Muslim residing in New York City might conclude their daily fast with iftar, the evening meal, around 5:45 p.m. The sunset time will then incrementally shift later by a minute or two each day, reaching 5:54 p.m. by March 7. However, once Daylight Saving Time begins on March 8, that identical sunset will suddenly occur at 6:55 p.m. by the clock. While the duration of the fast remains unchanged, all associated activities—dinner, the pre-dawn meal, nightly prayers, family interactions, and sleep—will now take place an hour later.

Throughout Ramadan, observant Muslims refrain from consuming any food or drink between dawn and sunset, a period typically lasting 12 to 15 hours based on geographical location. As spring advances, days naturally extend, causing the fasts to progressively lengthen over the month. The distinct difficulty posed by the time change is the abrupt upheaval to established routines, which are themselves tied to specific clock hours.

Affected Regions

This time shift impacts Muslim communities across the majority of the United States and Canada. The effects are particularly notable in:

• The contiguous United States (excluding Arizona and Hawaii, which do not implement Daylight Saving Time)

• Most Canadian provinces and territories (with exceptions in parts of Saskatchewan, Yukon, and certain areas of British Columbia and Quebec)

European areas that practice summer time will avoid this particular disruption this year, as their clocks adjust on March 29, after Ramadan has concluded. Similarly, Muslims residing in regions that do not observe Daylight Saving Time (such as Arizona, Hawaii, much of the Middle East, and extensive areas of Asia and Africa) will also not encounter this mid-Ramadan schedule alteration. 

Varied Impacts of the Disruption

Imam Abdul-Malik Merchant, who directs programs at the Hearts Together Foundation—a Muslim-led nonprofit focused on scholarship and research—highlights that this time adjustment will impact individuals uniquely. He states, “For most people, I don’t anticipate it will make a significant difference,” adding that by the time of the change, “you will have already completed 20 days, and your body will be fully adapted to fasting.”

Aseel Hasan, a 29-year-old Cincinnati mother six months into her pregnancy, is facing the upcoming time change with both practical resolve and strong will. While Islamic teachings exempt pregnant and breastfeeding women from fasting (as well as the sick, disabled, mentally ill, and travelers who opt out), Hasan intends to observe Ramadan’s fast this year. She explains, “I don’t feel a complete spiritual connection if I’m not fasting.”

The altered schedule is a key consideration for her: “I must ensure I remain exceptionally hydrated. I also need to make certain I have sufficient energy to keep up with my toddler and manage a full day without feeling the need to end my fast prematurely.”

Turaani manages a demanding schedule, balancing part-time work with full-time academic studies. She intends to dedicate her days off to cooking and cleaning, engage in meal preparation, and depend significantly on her husband’s support. She notes, “My focus on planning has been more on my work and study schedule than on cooking and cleaning.” Turaani anticipates her body will adjust to the additional hour she must wait after her 7 p.m. work shifts once Daylight Saving Time begins. “I factored in the time change and chose to bring a date and soup to work for this Ramadan.” Her modest iftar at work will precede a more substantial meal upon her return home around 8 p.m.

Supporting Muslims During Ramadan

Merchant, from Hearts Together, uses a running analogy to describe his perspective on the situation: “Imagine you’ve trained all year for a marathon, and suddenly, there are hills. That’s a new element, testing a different kind of stamina you weren’t aware you possessed. The time change introduces a new variable, offering a fresh chance to strengthen our determination and faith.”

Non-Muslims with family, colleagues, classmates, or neighbors observing Ramadan can offer better support during the latter half of the month by understanding this transition. A coworker who appeared unaffected in early March might suddenly exhibit more tiredness in the weeks following the time adjustment—not due to extended fasts, but because the altered schedule impacts sleep and evening activities. Similarly, a Muslim friend keen on a 6:30 p.m. dinner last week might need to reschedule for 7:30 p.m. or later once the time shifts. 

However, Turaani believes this challenge could be mutually beneficial if it encourages greater empathy. She remarks, “It’s a valuable experience each time I break my fast, serving as a powerful reminder for all aspects of life,” drawing a parallel to enduring difficulties. “I suggest that [non-Muslims] attempt it, to whatever extent they can, simply to appreciate its profound beauty.”

Future Outlook

Muslims in America are getting ready for this year’s distinct situation with a combination of practical arrangements and spiritual determination. Some, such as Imam Siddiqi, view it with a straightforward attitude. Others, including Hasan and Turaani, are meticulously strategizing their work, childcare, and household duties, all while upholding their religious obligations.

A common thread among them is the understanding that Ramadan, much like faith itself, transcends mere comfort. Numerous Muslims, when explaining their reasons for fasting, stress the emphasis on personal growth, self-discipline, and fostering a connection to something greater. An altered schedule, disturbed sleep, or a changed evening routine are integral components of this spiritual journey.