Quick answer: Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on Monday 8 February, so the 4-week window opens on Monday 11 January. A workable order is to count and start any make-up fasts first, then adjust sleep and caffeine, then set a Quran and worship routine, then sort money and logistics in the final week.
The expected date and why it can move by a day
The expected first day of Ramadan 2027 is Monday 8 February 2027 on the Umm al-Qura calendar, subject to moon sighting. That calendar is the official civil calendar of Saudi Arabia and sets the month by calculation, which is why a date can be given months ahead.
Many mosques wait for the crescent instead. On the Umm al-Qura count, the 29th of Sha’ban is Saturday 6 February 2027, and that evening is when sighting announcements are normally awaited. In the US the Fiqh Council of North America calendar points to 8 February, while mosques following a local sighting may begin a day later. In the UK there’s no single authority: mosques following Saudi Arabia usually start on the earlier date and those following a local sighting may start a day later.
So treat 8 February as the date to plan around, and keep the following day in mind until your mosque confirms. The Ramadan dates page tracks the expected dates, and the Hijri converter shows the matching Gregorian days.
The plan at a glance
The weeks below are counted back from the expected start. Shift everything by a day if your community begins on 9 February.
| Week (2027) | Main task | Practical steps |
|---|---|---|
| Week 4: 11 to 17 Jan | Count what you owe | List missed Ramadan fasts, plan make-up days, book a GP or pharmacist chat if you take medicines |
| Week 3: 18 to 24 Jan | Fasting practice | Make-up fasts or voluntary fasts, cut caffeine by about a quarter, wake a little earlier |
| Week 2: 25 to 31 Jan | Worship routine | Fix a daily Quran portion, find Taraweeh arrangements, cut caffeine again |
| Week 1: 1 to 7 Feb | Logistics and giving | Save the timetable, plan suhoor and iftar meals, set a zakat and charity plan, confirm the sighting announcement |
Week 4: count and plan your make-up fasts
Start with the debt that’s easiest to forget. If you missed days last Ramadan through illness, travel, menstruation or pregnancy, those days are owed. The Quran addresses this directly.
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
The verse gives the principle: an equal number of other days. Write down the exact count, then place the days in your diary. Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, or 2 days a week, spreads them across the weeks left. Intention is made before dawn for each day, and you can note the number off as you go with the make-up tracker, which is built for prayers but works as a model for a simple tally.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was known for making up her days late in the year.
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ تَقُولُ كَانَ يَكُونُ عَلَىَّ الصَّوْمُ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ، فَمَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَقْضِيَ إِلاَّ فِي شَعْبَانَ. قَالَ يَحْيَى الشُّغْلُ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ أَوْ بِالنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Narrated `Aisha:Sometimes I missed some days of Ramadan, but could not fast in lieu of them except in the month of Sha'ban." Said Yahya, a sub-narrator, "She used to be busy serving the Prophet (ﷺ)
Scholars link this report to the idea that make-up fasts should be completed before the next Ramadan begins. A passage quoted from al-Mawsu’ah al-Fiqhiyyah says that the majority of scholars set that time frame because of Aisha’s words.
What the schools say if the next Ramadan arrives first
The schools differ on delay without a valid excuse. Sources also differ on how to describe the Hanbali position, so the table notes that.
| School | Make-up fast still owed? | Fidya for unexcused delay? |
|---|---|---|
| Hanafi | Yes | Delay is permitted without restriction, even once the next Ramadan has arrived; making up early is still described as desirable |
| Maliki | Yes | Yes, one mudd of food for each missed day, according to the majority view of the Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali schools |
| Shafi’i | Yes | Yes, about 750 ml of staple food to a poor person for each day; an escalating amount applies if the delay runs over several Ramadans |
| Hanbali | Yes | Most sources say yes. The British Fatwa Council notes an opinion from the Hanafis and Hanbalis that there’s no restriction on when the fasts must be completed |
Where the delay was due to a valid excuse such as sickness or travel, the Shafi’i source says only the missed days are owed and no fidya applies. The British Fatwa Council adds that if Ramadan arrives while fasts are still owed, the fasts of Ramadan are completed first. A qualified scholar can advise on your own count and circumstances.
Week 3 and the question of fasting in Sha’ban
Sha’ban is the month before Ramadan, and the Sunnah records generous voluntary fasting in it.
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي النَّضْرِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصُومُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لاَ يُفْطِرُ، وَيُفْطِرُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لاَ يَصُومُ. فَمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم اسْتَكْمَلَ صِيَامَ شَهْرٍ إِلاَّ رَمَضَانَ، وَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ أَكْثَرَ صِيَامًا مِنْهُ فِي شَعْبَانَ.
Narrated `Aisha:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to fast till one would say that he would never stop fasting, and he would abandon fasting till one would say that he would never fast. I never saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) fasting for a whole month except the month of Ramadan, and did not see him fasting in any month more than in the month of Sha'ban
Scholars explain that “never fasted a whole month except Ramadan” means the Prophet ﷺ fasted most of Sha’ban rather than every day. Most scholars of the Hanafi, Maliki and Shafi’i schools, and some Hanbalis, hold that fasting often in Sha’ban is recommended.
The second half of the month is where the schools part.
| School | Voluntary fasting after mid-Sha’ban | Exceptions mentioned |
|---|---|---|
| Hanafi and Maliki | The majority of jurists say it’s permissible. The sources here don’t separate these two schools from that majority. | Not applicable |
| Shafi’i | Haram or makruh for someone with no habit of fasting who isn’t joining it to an earlier fast; al-Ruyani read the restriction as makruh rather than haram | A regular habit, continuing from before mid-month, make-up fasts (qada) and vows (nadhr) |
| Hanbali | Makruh (disliked) | A regular habit such as Mondays and Thursdays |
The restriction rests on a report found outside Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, so this site doesn’t quote it. Some scholars classed that report as weak, and the majority hold that voluntary fasting after mid-Sha’ban is permissible. Counting from the Umm al-Qura dates, the second half begins around 24 January, which is the end of week 3.
Practically, this means make-up fasts are never caught by the restriction, and a reader who follows the Shafi’i school can fast in the first half of Sha’ban and continue. There’s also the matter of the day or two just before Ramadan.
لاَ يَتَقَدَّمَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ رَمَضَانَ بِصَوْمِ يَوْمٍ أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ، إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ رَجُلٌ كَانَ يَصُومُ صَوْمَهُ فَلْيَصُمْ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ
Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "None of you should fast a day or two before the month of Ramadan unless he has the habit of fasting (Nawafil) (and if his fasting coincides with that day) then he can fast that day
The report allows a person who fasts by habit to keep that habit. The 30th of Sha’ban is sometimes called the day of doubt when the crescent hasn’t been confirmed. With Sha’ban expected to have 30 days on one calendar, that is the day to ask your mosque about.
Weeks 3 and 2: sleep, caffeine and your body
Health advice comes from medical sources here, and scholars address exemptions separately. A fast in February is far shorter than the 19-hour fasts reported for the UK summer, but the body still needs time.
- Caffeine. One guide suggests starting 2 to 4 weeks before Ramadan, and cutting intake by 25 to 30% each week. A hospital pharmacy bulletin says reducing caffeine beforehand helps prevent headache, irritability and mood swings. Dropping afternoon and evening drinks first is a common starting point.
- Sleep. One US medical centre advises moving your wake-up time a little earlier each day in the weeks before Ramadan, so suhoor doesn’t feel rushed.
- Medicines. NHS North East London says to keep taking prescribed medicines but to check with your GP or pharmacist whether doses or timings need to change.
- Long-term conditions. Anyone with diabetes, heart disease or kidney problems who wants to fast is advised to consult their GP first.
The same NHS page notes that becoming unwell while fasting is a reason to consider breaking the fast, as is permitted to avoid harm. The Quran mentions the sick and the traveller in the verse quoted in week 4. Whether fasting is right in your case is a question for your doctor and a scholar together.
Week 2: set a Quran and prayer routine
Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was revealed, and the verse says so.
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍۢ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
Many people choose to finish a full recitation. On a standard 604-page Madani mushaf, around 20 to 21 pages a day covers the text in about a month. If Ramadan lasts 29 days, plan to read the remaining portion before the month ends. The Quran in 30 days plan splits the daily portion across the five prayers, which suits a working day.
Start the habit now, before Ramadan, with a smaller daily amount. Setting a fixed time each day makes it easier to keep up once Ramadan begins.
Taraweeh is the other fixed point. Mosques differ in the number of rak’ahs and in how much they recite each night, so ask your own mosque for its schedule and note the start time after Isha. This is also the week to decide on the last ten nights; by the Umm al-Qura count they begin at sunset on 27 February, and a leave request at work is easier to make early.
Week 1: logistics, money and the final checks
With the worship routine in place, the final week is about practical details.
- Timetable. A Ramadan timetable can be obtained from your local mosque. You can also use the timetables page. Save the Fajr and Maghrib times for your city and note that they shift daily.
- Sighting announcement. Find out where your mosque or national body will post it on the evening of 6 and 7 February.
- Meals. Plan simple meals, buy essential groceries and keep adjusting your bedtime. A date and some water is a common way to open the fast and helps against overeating.
- Work and school. Tell your employer or school about prayer breaks, Taraweeh evenings and any leave for the last ten nights.
- Printable planners. The downloads page has planners and checklists you can print.
Zakat and charity
If your zakat anniversary (the date your savings first reached the nisab) falls in or near Ramadan, week 1 is a good time to work out the figure. The zakat calculator helps, and the gold and silver prices should be checked on the day you calculate. Zakat al-Fitr is a separate charity given before the Eid prayer, and its amount in kilograms has its own article on this site.
Voluntary charity is easier to give when it’s planned. A small daily amount set aside before 8 February avoids deciding each evening, and scholars of all four schools treat extra giving in Ramadan as recommended.
A short checklist to print
- Number of make-up fast days owed, and the dates chosen for them
- Your school’s position on fidya if some days remain, and a note to ask a scholar
- Medicines reviewed with a GP or pharmacist, if relevant
- Wake-up time already moved earlier, caffeine reduced
- Daily Quran portion fixed, Taraweeh time known
- Timetable saved, sighting announcement source noted
- Zakat date checked, daily giving amount set
Sources
- Embrace Relief: When Is Ramadan 2027? Dates and Moon Sighting Guide
- Umm al-Qura Calendar: Ramadan 2027 in Saudi Arabia, 1448 AH
- Wusul: Ramadan 2027 and Eid 2027 dates, US, UK and Gulf
- British Fatwa Council: Fasting in the month of Sha’ban
- British Fatwa Council: Delaying the missed fasts of Ramadan
- IslamOnline Fiqh: Fasting in the Second Half of Sha’ban
- AboutIslam: Can We Fast after 15 Shaban?
- Jabatan Mufti Wilayah Persekutuan: Irsyad al-Hadith Series 73
- IslamQA (Dar al-Ifta Jordan, Shafi’i): Delaying make-up of missed fasts
- SeekersGuidance: How Do I Calculate Fidya for Missed and Delayed Fasts?
- Islamweb: Delaying making up missed fasting until next Ramadan
- Islam Question and Answer: Paying Fidyah for Delaying Making up Missed Fasts
- NHS North East London: Plan ahead for a healthy Ramadan
- East London NHS Foundation Trust: Ramadan Bulletin 2023
- Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare: Reducing Caffeine and Soft Drinks During Ramadan
- UT Southwestern: 5 tips for a healthy Ramadan fast
- The Conversation: Ramadan is almost here, 5 tips for wellbeing
- Ramadan 2027: Dates, Calendar and Preparation Guide
- Muslim Council of Britain: Ramadan Guide 2025
- Sunnah.com: Sahih al-Bukhari 1970
This article explains what the four Sunni schools say and links its sources. It is not a fatwa. Dates are expected dates and depend on moon sighting where you live. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.