For Muslims, Ramadan is considered the holiest month of the year; a time in which they commemorate the revelation of the Quran by fasting during sunlit hours. Through fasting and prayer, they’re able to nurture their self-control, patience, and discipline, encouraging gratitude and compassion for the less fortunate, and ultimately bring them closer to Allah.
Once the sun sets, after a full day of fasting Maghrib prayer signals the start of iftar. Iftar (the evening meal consumed to break the fast) marks a profound moment of gratitude and community and encourages Muslim’s to reflect on their blessings and be grateful for sustenance. Iftar encourages them to focus on faith, community and generosity.
Here at El Jannah, we never forget our roots. We encourage communities to enjoy our legendary charcoal chicken for iftar, alongside traditional Levantine dips and sides. Follow along while we discuss the iftar times for five major Australian cities and how to follow the sunnah.
What is Iftar and Why is it Important in Ramadan?
Iftar is an important tradition for any practising Muslim that is fasting during Ramadan. It’s the meal they eat at sunset to break their fast, after offering the Maghrib prayer. Iftar traditionally commences by first consuming a date and water, followed by a full meal. Iftar is more than just a meal that breaks the fast, it’s a moment of true gratitude and reflection.
- Gratitude: Iftar time is a chance to reflect and show gratitude to Allah. It’s an opportunity to thank Him for His blessings.
- Spiritual connection: Taking part also means following the sunnah, which are the ancient traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
- Nourishment: Iftar provides nourishment that helps see you through the rest of the evening, until it’s time for suhnoor.
- Community: Families and friends gather to celebrate iftar every evening. Many Muslims also work to provide iftar meals to those in need.
Every community celebrates in their own way. In the Middle East, streets come alive with communal iftar tents. Indonesian Muslims break the fast with “takjil,” which is a series of small snacks. Australia’s Muslim community is very culturally diverse, so how your family celebrates iftar might be different to your neighbours. Ultimately, however, you’re all still following the sunnah.
What Time is Iftar in Australia? (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth & Brisbane)
It’s important to keep an eye on the correct iftar time no matter where you reside in Australia. Alongside the Maghrib prayer, this begins immediately at sunset, so it differs for every city and typically begins earlier as the days get shorter. This year, there are no clashes with daylight savings time. You won’t have to worry about massive time changes from one evening to the next. Instead, it should be a slow and gradual shift; however, it’s slower in some cities than others.
For example, iftar time in Melbourne starts at 8:02 PM and is 7:20 PM by the end of Ramadan. In contrast, Brisbane’s time changes from 6:20 PM to 5:50 PM. If you’ll be leading your home’s prayers, check your city or town’s Maghrib times. With this in mind, if you’re wondering what time iftar is throughout Ramadan, here are timetables for five major Australian cities:
Iftar Time Sydney
| Date | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 01/03/2025 | Saturday | 7:33 PM |
| 02/03/2025 | Sunday | 7:32 PM |
| 03/03/2025 | Monday | 7:31 PM |
| 04/03/2025 | Tuesday | 7:30 PM |
| 05/03/2025 | Wednesday | 7:28 PM |
| 06/03/2025 | Thursday | 7:27 PM |
| 07/03/2025 | Friday | 7:26 PM |
| 08/03/2025 | Saturday | 7:24 PM |
| 09/03/2025 | Sunday | 7:23 PM |
| 10/03/2025 | Monday | 7:22 PM |
| 11/03/2025 | Tuesday | 7:21 PM |
| 12/03/2025 | Wednesday | 7:19 PM |
| 13/03/2025 | Thursday | 7:18 PM |
| 14/03/2025 | Friday | 7:17 PM |
| 15/03/2025 | Saturday | 7:15 PM |
| 16/03/2025 | Sunday | 7:14 PM |
| 17/03/2025 | Monday | 7:13 PM |
| 18/03/2025 | Tuesday | 7:11 PM |
| 19/03/2025 | Wednesday | 7:10 PM |
| 20/03/2025 | Thursday | 7:08 PM |
| 21/03/2025 | Friday | 7:07 PM |
| 22/03/2025 | Saturday | 7:06 PM |
| 23/03/2025 | Sunday | 7:04 PM |
| 24/03/2025 | Monday | 7:03 PM |
| 25/03/2025 | Tuesday | 7:02 PM |
| 26/03/2025 | Wednesday | 7:00 PM |
| 27/03/2025 | Thursday | 6:59 PM |
| 28/03/2025 | Friday | 6:58 PM |
| 29/03/2025 | Saturday | 6:56 PM |
Iftar Time Melbourne
| Date | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 01/03/2025 | Saturday | 8:02 PM |
| 02/03/2025 | Sunday | 8:00 PM |
| 03/03/2025 | Monday | 7:59 PM |
| 04/03/2025 | Tuesday | 7:58 PM |
| 05/03/2025 | Wednesday | 7:56 PM |
| 06/03/2025 | Thursday | 7:55 PM |
| 07/03/2025 | Friday | 7:53 PM |
| 08/03/2025 | Saturday | 7:52 PM |
| 09/03/2025 | Sunday | 7:50 PM |
| 10/03/2025 | Monday | 7:49 PM |
| 11/03/2025 | Tuesday | 7:47 PM |
| 12/03/2025 | Wednesday | 7:46 PM |
| 13/03/2025 | Thursday | 7:44 PM |
| 14/03/2025 | Friday | 7:43 PM |
| 15/03/2025 | Saturday | 7:41 PM |
| 16/03/2025 | Sunday | 7:40 PM |
| 17/03/2025 | Monday | 7:38 PM |
| 18/03/2025 | Tuesday | 7:37 PM |
| 19/03/2025 | Wednesday | 7:35 PM |
| 20/03/2025 | Thursday | 7:34 PM |
| 21/03/2025 | Friday | 7:32 PM |
| 22/03/2025 | Saturday | 7:31 PM |
| 23/03/2025 | Sunday | 7:29 PM |
| 24/03/2025 | Monday | 7:28 PM |
| 25/03/2025 | Tuesday | 7:26 PM |
| 26/03/2025 | Wednesday | 7:25 PM |
| 27/03/2025 | Thursday | 7:23 PM |
| 28/03/2025 | Friday | 7:22 PM |
| 29/03/2025 | Saturday | 7:20 PM |
Iftar Time Adelaide
| Date | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 01/03/2025 | Saturday | 7:53 PM |
| 02/03/2025 | Sunday | 7:52 PM |
| 03/03/2025 | Monday | 7:52 PM |
| 04/03/2025 | Tuesday | 7:51 PM |
| 05/03/2025 | Wednesday | 7:48 PM |
| 06/03/2025 | Thursday | 7:47 PM |
| 07/03/2025 | Friday | 7:45 PM |
| 08/03/2025 | Saturday | 7:44 PM |
| 09/03/2025 | Sunday | 7:43 PM |
| 10/03/2025 | Monday | 7:41 PM |
| 11/03/2025 | Tuesday | 7:40 PM |
| 12/03/2025 | Wednesday | 7:39 PM |
| 13/03/2025 | Thursday | 7:37 PM |
| 14/03/2025 | Friday | 7:36 PM |
| 15/03/2025 | Saturday | 7:35 PM |
| 16/03/2025 | Sunday | 7:33 PM |
| 17/03/2025 | Monday | 7:32 PM |
| 18/03/2025 | Tuesday | 7:30 PM |
| 19/03/2025 | Wednesday | 7:29 PM |
| 20/03/2025 | Thursday | 7:28 PM |
| 21/03/2025 | Friday | 7:26 PM |
| 22/03/2025 | Saturday | 7:25 PM |
| 23/03/2025 | Sunday | 7:23 PM |
| 24/03/2025 | Monday | 7:22 PM |
| 25/03/2025 | Tuesday | 7:21 PM |
| 26/03/2025 | Wednesday | 7:19 PM |
| 27/03/2025 | Thursday | 7:18 PM |
| 28/03/2025 | Friday | 7:16 PM |
| 29/03/2025 | Saturday | 7:15 PM |
Iftar Time Perth
| Date | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 01/03/2025 | Saturday | 6:53 PM |
| 02/03/2025 | Sunday | 6:52 PM |
| 03/03/2025 | Monday | 6:51 PM |
| 04/03/2025 | Tuesday | 6:50 PM |
| 05/03/2025 | Wednesday | 6:48 PM |
| 06/03/2025 | Thursday | 6:47 PM |
| 07/03/2025 | Friday | 6:46 PM |
| 08/03/2025 | Saturday | 6:45 PM |
| 09/03/2025 | Sunday | 6:43 PM |
| 10/03/2025 | Monday | 6:42 PM |
| 11/03/2025 | Tuesday | 6:41 PM |
| 12/03/2025 | Wednesday | 6:40 PM |
| 13/03/2025 | Thursday | 6:38 PM |
| 14/03/2025 | Friday | 6:37 PM |
| 15/03/2025 | Saturday | 6:36 PM |
| 16/03/2025 | Sunday | 6:35 PM |
| 17/03/2025 | Monday | 6:33 PM |
| 18/03/2025 | Tuesday | 6:32 PM |
| 19/03/2025 | Wednesday | 6:31 PM |
| 20/03/2025 | Thursday | 6:30 PM |
| 21/03/2025 | Friday | 6:28 PM |
| 22/03/2025 | Saturday | 6:27 PM |
| 23/03/2025 | Sunday | 6:26 PM |
| 24/03/2025 | Monday | 6:24 PM |
| 25/03/2025 | Tuesday | 6:23 PM |
| 26/03/2025 | Wednesday | 6:22 PM |
| 27/03/2025 | Thursday | 6:21 PM |
| 28/03/2025 | Friday | 6:19 PM |
| 29/03/2025 | Saturday | 6:18 PM |
Iftar Time Brisbane
| Date | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 01/03/2025 | Saturday | 6:20 PM |
| 02/03/2025 | Sunday | 6:19 PM |
| 03/03/2025 | Monday | 6:18 PM |
| 04/03/2025 | Tuesday | 6:17 PM |
| 05/03/2025 | Wednesday | 6:16 PM |
| 06/03/2025 | Thursday | 6:15 PM |
| 07/03/2025 | Friday | 6:14 PM |
| 08/03/2025 | Saturday | 6:13 PM |
| 09/03/2025 | Sunday | 6:12 PM |
| 10/03/2025 | Monday | 6:11 PM |
| 11/03/2025 | Tuesday | 6:10 PM |
| 12/03/2025 | Wednesday | 6:08 PM |
| 13/03/2025 | Thursday | 6:07 PM |
| 14/03/2025 | Friday | 6:06 PM |
| 15/03/2025 | Saturday | 6:05 PM |
| 16/03/2025 | Sunday | 6:04 PM |
| 17/03/2025 | Monday | 6:03 PM |
| 18/03/2025 | Tuesday | 6:02 PM |
| 19/03/2025 | Wednesday | 6:01 PM |
| 20/03/2025 | Thursday | 6:00 PM |
| 21/03/2025 | Friday | 5:58 PM |
| 22/03/2025 | Saturday | 5:57 PM |
| 23/03/2025 | Sunday | 5:56 PM |
| 24/03/2025 | Monday | 5:55 PM |
| 25/03/2025 | Tuesday | 5:54 PM |
| 26/03/2025 | Wednesday | 5:53 PM |
| 27/03/2025 | Thursday | 5:52 PM |
| 28/03/2025 | Friday | 5:51 PM |
| 29/03/2025 | Saturday | 5:50 PM |
If your town or city isn’t here, check with your local mosque, they likely have daily prayer times. You can also search for online calendars and timetables to guide your Maghrib prayers.
What to Eat for Iftar? Traditional & Healthy Meal Ideas
You can follow the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) sunnah by first breaking a fast with fresh dates and water. This restores energy and hydration. What you have for iftar next is up to you, though there are plenty of traditional dishes your whole family can enjoy. These include:
- Fasolia, pronounced fah·soo·li·yaa, is a bean stew generally made with cubes of beef and served with rice and lebanese bread.
- Lahm bi Ajeen, a flakey flat bread with a spicy and tangy meat topping.
- Kousa, Lebanese zucchini stuffed with a meat and rice mixture, cooked in tomato broth.
- Fattoush, a special Lebanese salad that’s both filling and full of fibre
- Flatbreads with hommous, babaghanouj, and other delicious dips
- Baklava, a delicious Middle Eastern dessert (usually includes nuts)
- El Jannah, do we even need to explain? This should be obvious. Duh.
You can also combine some of the options above to ensure your meal is nutritiously balanced. It’s also important to stay hydrated during iftar, so here are some of our hydration tips:
- Avoid dehydrating drinks, such as caffeine and sugary beverages
- Consider drinking coconut water, which is full of helpful electrolytes
- Start with small sips so you don’t overwhelm your stomach right away
- Space out your water consumption across the evening and night
- Add water-rich foods (such as fruits) to your iftar meal
For many families, iftar is considered a feast for the whole family. Which is why we think it’s a great idea to take the preparation out of your hands; come and feast with El Jannah. You’ll nourish your body and your soul with our charcoal chicken.
Sunnah & Etiquettes of Breaking the Fast
Your iftar plans should follow the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He started the tradition of eating dates and drinking water at sunset, notably before the Maghrib prayer, which is why iftar now typically begins as soon as the Maghrib Adhan commences. However, it’s common to first recite a du’a (or supplication) right before ending the fast. The most common pre-iftar du’a is as follows:
“Dhahaba al-zama wa’btalat al-‘uruq wa thabata al-ajr in sha Allah” (“The thirst is gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is certain if Allah wills”)
After praying, you can follow up with a full meal, ideally with the whole family. It’s also sunnah to eat using your right hand, though you may use your left hand if the right is injured. Beyond these rules, it’s important to remember to be generous and charitable during Ramadan. Many families donate food or donate to charitable campaigns throughout the month.
Stay Connected with El Jannah During Ramadan!
At El Jannah, we regularly host families for their iftar meals. Everything we serve is halal and our restaurants are all open during the Maghrib prayer. We understand that many people prefer to enjoy iftar meals with their family and in the comfort of their own neighbourhoods, so if you’d also rather eat at home, we’re happy to deliver your El Jannah meals straight to your doorstep.
We can also arrange catering orders for your whole community. Our platters and trays can each feed over a dozen people and include falafel, fattoush salad, and our legendary, irresistible charcoal chicken.
FAQs on Iftar Time & Ramadan in Australia
What time is iftar today in Sydney?
The iftar time today (18 March 2025) in Sydney is 7:11 PM. This is when the sun sets and the Maghrib prayer begins. As this changes every day, make sure to check local timetables for up-to-date information.
How is iftar time calculated?
Iftar time is different for every town or city and depends on Maghrib, the moment that the sun is completely below the horizon. Once this is complete, you can end your fast and start praying.
Does iftar time change every day?
During Ramadan in Australia, the sun sets about 1-2 minutes earlier each day. Across the weeks, the difference can be up to 40 minutes in total.
What if I miss iftar?
You can eat iftar at any time after sunset, though you should make this as soon as possible. If you order from El Jannah, we’ll make sure you get filling feasts at your door in no time.
Can I eat before the adhan (call to prayer) finishes?
Yep! You can eat as soon as the Maghrib adhan starts, however, you should wait until after praying to have the full iftar meal.
Why does iftar time differ between cities?
This is because the sun sets at different times in different places. For example, on the same day, iftar can be at 7:10 PM (Sydney), 7:35 PM (Melbourne), and 6:31 PM (Perth).
Is it sunnah to break the fast with dates and water?
Yep, this is exactly what the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did.
Is it better to eat lightly at iftar and have a full meal later?
This is up to you, but it’s always best to ease into large meals with a starter (such as fresh dates). You can even wait an hour or even longer before the main course.
Can I order iftar catering for large gatherings?
Absolutely; just one of our catering platters can feed up to 25 people. Place an El Jannah catering order today, and introduce your whole community to the rich taste of 100% halal Lebanese-style charcoal chicken.
