Muslims at all our campuses will be observing Ramadan, the annual month of fasting, from the evening of Wednesday, Feb 18 to Thursday, Mar 19, 2026 (subject to sighting of the lunar crescent).
Ramadan is a month of fasting (sawm), prayer (salah), reflection, and community.
The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar is considered one of the holiest months for followers. It is observed by fasting from dawn until sunset, refraining from eating, drinking, smoking while displaying humility and good conduct.
“Breaking the fast at sunset is a requirement for the fast, so we request Unitec kaimahi to please allow Muslim students and staff some time for breaking fast and quick prayer,” says Mun Naqvi, School of Applied Business Coordinator and member of the Unitec Muslims Club.
Though fasting, followers aim to cultivate:
- Self-discipline
- Spiritual awareness (taqwa)
- Empathy for the less fortunate
- Detachment from excess
Ramadan is often described as a spiritual training month. Muslims increase:
- Prayer (including nightly Tarāwīḥ)
- Charity (zakāt and voluntary ṣadaqah)
- Repentance and self-examination
Mr Naqvi adds: “Sunset will gradually be earlier as the month progresses, so the time of breaking fast will move from around 8.20pm to around 7.40pm by the end of Ramadan. These times are slightly delayed for those following the Ja’frie Fiqha (school of law followed by the majority of Shia Muslims).”
The Eid Celebration marks the end of the month-long, dawn-to-dusk fasting during Ramadan and will be held around third week of March.
Eid an opportunity to celebrate the diversity that our learners bring to our campuses and to learn more about what Ramadan means for our Muslim whānau.
Eid dates will be announced soon via Te Aka (The Nest) and other channels.
Muslim Prayer locations on campus
We have Muslim Prayer rooms at both of our Mt Albert and Waitākere campuses, which are available for use during our campus opening hours. They offer a quiet place to reflect, pray or meditate. These are in the Muslim Salaat Hall in Building 158, Mt Albert and Building 510-3033 at Waitākere.