logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
26m 31s

The Fifth Floor: My Ramadan

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It’s a period of prayer, celebrations and community gatherings and Muslims worldwide observe it by fasting from dawn to sunset. As this year’s Ramadan draws to a close, Faranak Amidi is joined by three BBC World Service colleagues who share their personal experiences and the stories that made headlines in their countries during this year’s celebrations.

Asif Farooqi, Aalia Farzan and Deena Easa have been looking at how conflict, natural disasters and the cost-of-living crisis are impacting people in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Gaza. Plus... Ramadan cricket, why do people want to get married during the Holy Month, and the TV series that everyone’s talking about.

Produced by Alice Gioia and Caroline Ferguson

(Image: Presenter Faranak Amidi. Credit: Tricia Yourkevich)

Up next
Today
Love on trial: India's age of consent controversy
Set against the backdrop of one of the world’s toughest child protection laws, Brishbhanu Baruah explores how India’s landmark Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso) is reshaping the lives of young people. Introduced after the 2012 Delhi gang rape, Pocso has been ... Show More
26m 44s
May 2
Mapping Epstein's global connections
The personal correspondence, photographs and papers of the late convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein have been released to the public in stages, beginning in December 2025, after an almost unanimous vote in the US Senate. The released files run to three and a half ... Show More
26m 29s
Apr 25
Inside the Mugabe dynasty
Late Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe died in 2019, but in the years before and since his death, his three children with his former wife, Grace, consistenly made headlines for all the wrong reasons. In April 2026 Bellarmine Mugabe pled guilty to a firearms offence in South Afri ... Show More
26m 29s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2024
How are people in Gaza observing Ramadan?
Muslims around the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan. It's a month of fasting, reflection, community and family time. But this year it feels different.Iqra Farooq, a BBC journalist in London, explains how people have traditionally marked Ramadan and how the Israel-Gaz ... Show More
16m 18s
May 2020
Samar Jarrah, Wajahat Ali, Sahar Ullah, et al. — Revealing Ramadan
This year Muslims are experiencing a Ramadan like no other. The month is usually a period of both intimacy and great community. Now Muslims are improvising, as in many places the rituals of Ramadan must be experienced at home or online. This show, recorded in 2009, grew out of an ... Show More
51m 30s
Mar 2024
Why does Ramadan start on a different date each year?
Today marks the first day of Ramadan. Muslims around the world have begun a month-long fasting period, with fasting being one of the five pillars of Islam. During Ramadan, Muslims strive for spiritual growth by purifying both body and mind. That means abstaining from food and wat ... Show More
4m 59s
Mar 2023
What is Ramadan?
tail spinning
20 m
Mar 2023
Introducing My Ramadan
‘My Ramadan’ is a podcast that explores how diverse Australian Muslims experience Ramadan and Eid. Five special episodes will be released weekly across the month of Ramadan. 
1m 34s
Apr 2021
68. Ramadan 2021: An Introduction to Islam’s Holy Month! (English Vocabulary Lesson)
On April 12th the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began. Millions of Muslims around the world are now fasting, observing the religious holiday, and celebrating with friends and family. In this episode of Thinking in English, I want to answer some of the most common questions people ... Show More
20m 35s
Apr 2022
RAMADAN SPECIAL !
<p>In this episode Maha reflect on the purpose of Ramadan in our lives. She discusses ways to stay productive and to make the most of this blessed month. Please keep the team in your dua this Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak !&nbsp;</p> 
29m 37s
Jun 2016
Fasting Like A Butterfly And Stinging Like A Bee, From Ramadan To The Legacy Of Muhammad Ali 6/11/16
As Muslims across the world this week began the holy month of Ramadan in fasting and reflection, Dr. Jasser shares its meaning for American Muslims blessed with freedom and for families suffering in war torn Syria. Zuhdi will tell you how David Plouffe and Uber sold out and may b ... Show More
1h 3m