Ramadan timetable 2027 in East Jerusalem: calculated times
In East Jerusalem, the Ramadan timetable 2027 consists of two times to know each day: imsak, when the pre-dawn meal must end, and iftar, when the fast is broken at sunset. On Monday 8 February, the expected first day, imsak falls at 04:55 and iftar at 17:19.
Ramadan 2027 in East Jerusalem should open on Monday 8 February. That day, imsak is at 04:55 and maghrib, the moment of iftar, at 17:19, making a first fast of 12 h 24, which grows by fifty minutes over the month.
| Day | Imsak | Fajr | Sunrise | Iftar (maghrib) | Isha | Fasting time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 – Mon 8 Feb | 04:55 | 05:05 | 06:28 | 17:19 | 18:37 | 12 h 24 |
| Day 15 – Mon 22 Feb | 04:43 | 04:53 | 06:14 | 17:31 | 18:48 | 12 h 48 |
| Day 29 – Mon 8 Mar | 04:28 | 04:38 | 05:59 | 17:42 | 18:58 | 13 h 14 |
Calculated estimates (18°/17° (MWL)). The IslamicFinder widget above shows today’s times; check with your local mosque.
Hills, walls and a skyline of domes
East Jerusalem rises along a ridge of the Judean hills at around 750 metres, with the walled Old City at its core and districts such as Sheikh Jarrah, Silwan, Wadi al-Joz and Beit Hanina spreading around, along with Mount of Olives slopes. Limestone buildings, terraced streets and narrow stairways give the area a close-packed feel, and the golden Dome of the Rock is visible from many viewpoints on surrounding ridges.
The days at this time of year are short. On the first Monday our table gives imsak at 04:55 and sunset food at 17:19, a fast of just 12 h 24, and by the last Monday it reaches 13 h 14 with sunset at 17:42. Residents notice a stretch almost every morning as the dawn arrives a little earlier.
Walking to the Old City at dusk
Many residents live within walking distance of its walls and reach the gates on foot. Paths from Salah al-Din Street, Wadi al-Joz and the Mount of Olives lead to the Old City gates, and in the final hour before sunset, stone stairways fill with people carrying bags of bread, sweets and fruit. In winter dark falls quickly, so a torch and sturdy shoes are worth remembering on slippery steps.
The Al-Aqsa compound and its approaches
The Al-Aqsa compound, known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif, covers a large walled platform in the south-east of the Old City and holds both Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. During Ramadan its courtyards receive some of the biggest crowds of the year, especially on Fridays and in the last ten nights. Entry arrangements for worshippers can vary from one year to the next, so visitors from outside Jerusalem should check current information before planning a journey.
Markets in the Muslim Quarter
Inside the walls, Khan al-Zeit and neighbouring covered lanes sell spices, bread, nuts and clothing, and in the weeks before Eid, shops stay open late. Outside, Salah al-Din Street supplies the daily needs of nearby neighbourhoods with bakeries, pharmacies and sweet shops.
Sweet tables of a mountain city
After sunset, tables in Jerusalem often turn to comfort food. Dates and olives are followed by hummus with warm bread, stuffed vegetables or rice with chicken, and the evening ends with knafeh, a hot cheese pastry soaked in syrup. On cold nights a cup of sahlab, a thick milky drink dusted with cinnamon, is a favourite way to warm up on the walk to the mosque.
Winter weather defines practical life. The city is cool and often wet in February, with a sharp wind on ridges and an occasional snowfall that can close roads for a day. Because fasting is short, thirst rarely troubles people, but cold weather and steep hills make an early walk to dawn prayer more demanding than any afternoon.
Staying comfortable on cold nights
People who commute between neighbourhoods and the Old City find a few habits especially useful:
- Dress in layers and keep a hat or scarf for pre-dawn walks
- Wear shoes with good grip for worn stone stairs
- Carry an umbrella on rainy evenings
- Do market shopping in mornings when lanes are calm
- Allow extra time near gates during busy final nights
The pause between sunset and night prayer
On the first Monday isha is at 18:37, about an hour and a quarter after evening food at 17:19, which leaves time to eat, rest and walk to a mosque. By day 29, sunset is at 17:42 and isha at 18:58, so this pause stays much the same as days lengthen.
Expectations for the opening and Eid
The first fast is expected on Monday 8 February, depending on the crescent sighting on Sunday evening 7 February, and a one-day delay is possible. Friday 5 March should bring a 27th-night vigil after sunset. Eid is projected for Tuesday 9 March, or Wednesday 10 March after a thirty-day month, and families traditionally visit graves and relatives on that first morning.
Is the morning cut-off much earlier by the end of the month?
Yes. Imsak moves from 04:55 on day 1 to 04:28 on day 29, which is 27 minutes earlier, while sunset shifts 23 minutes later, from 17:19 to 17:42. Alarms therefore need adjusting once a week.
How long is the window between the dawn call and sunrise?
On day one fajr is at 05:05 and sunrise at 06:28, a gap of about eighty minutes, leaving time for the prayer and a short rest before the working day starts.
Is the winter cold a problem for late prayers?
It can be, particularly on rainy nights. Warm clothing, a short walk and an early start are simple answers, and many people pray at the mosque nearest home on cold evenings.