Muslims and Christians Fast Together

In 2026, Christian and Muslim believers are united in fasting. On Ash Wednesday, the season of Lent begins for Christians and ends on the night before Easter Sunday. And when the sun sets on that same Wednesday evening, the fasting month of Ramadan begins for Muslims. This simultaneity is something special. The last time Lent and Ramadan began on the same day was more than 100 years ago.

As different as the rules may be, the underlying meaning of religious fasting is quite similar. “For those who fast, it is about more than simply giving up food,” says Imam Osman Örs from the House of One. “It is about inner reflection, contemplation, and at the same time compassion for those who have less – in short, about the question of what truly matters in life.”

Appreciating the Simple Things

Fasting is like a stop signal. Giving up what is familiar takes people out of their everyday routine. Letting go of habitual comforts creates space for something else – for reflection and silence. “You perceive your surroundings and your fellow human beings differently; you learn to appreciate simple things more,” says Patricia Böckmann, Protestant theologian at the House of One.

This is also expressed in the Protestant Church’s motto for Lent: “With Compassion! Seven Weeks Without Harshness.” In other words: being compassionate toward others.

For Catholic believers, Pope Leo XIV placed the season of Lent under the theme: “Listening and Fasting. Lent as a Time of Conversion.”

“Lent invites us, through silence and renunciation, to find a deeper relationship with God and also with our fellow human beings,” says Patricia Böckmann. It is a time of spiritual reflection in order to grow and develop further. “I step back and ask myself: Who do I want to be as a human being?”

Community and Solidarity

Another focus is on community and solidarity. People give up comforts and donate the money they save, for example, to social causes. The aspect of community also offers an opportunity to strengthen connections with people of other religions or worldviews. Especially during Ramadan, many Muslim communities, organizations, and private individuals invite others to join the evening breaking of the fast, the iftar.

This year, the House of One Foundation is once again inviting people to a communal iftar on March 4 in Spandau at the Wilhelmstadt Schools. More information here… (click).

Registration: ramadan@house-of-one.org

Together with the Mitte district and many other organizations, the foundation is also hosting an open-air iftar on March 12 at Leopoldplatz. 

Everyone is welcome.

Ramadan Mubarak! – – – Blessed Lenten season!