The holy month of Ramadan has begun, marking a significant time in the Islamic calendar, and Muslims all over the world will be preparing to take part in the celebrations.

Fasting in Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam – the essential rules that all Muslims follow – along with the Shahadah (declaration of faith), Salat (prayer), Zakat (charity) and the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, reports iNews.

In 2024, Ramadan started on Sunday, March 10 and is expected to end on Tuesday, April 9.

With this in mind, you may be wondering how you can wish people a Happy Ramadan in your family, at work and in your local community.

How do I wish someone a Happy Ramadan?

One of the most popular greetings during the ninth Islamic calendar month is “Ramadan Mubarak”, which translates from the Arabic word meaning “blessed”, reports iNews.

This phrase therefore means “Blessed Ramadan”, which can be used in the same way as wishing somebody a “Happy Ramadan”.

Another greeting phrase “Ramadan Kareem” isn’t used as much in the holy month but translates as “Generous Ramadan”.

Ramadan explained

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Although this expression can be used as a greeting in a similar way to “Ramadan Mubarak”, it can also be used to describe Ramadan in another way.

There is some debate around whether using “Ramadan Kareem” is appropriate, as the expectation of generosity can be “considered against the principles of fasting and prayer central to observing the holy month”, according to iNews.

However, Khaled Boudemagh, described by Gulf News as a Dubai-based language expert, said: “Ramadan is a month of generosity, therefore wish Kareem.”