Most of world’s 1.2 billion Muslims start observing the holy month of Ramadan on Monday
Muslims in Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey would begin fasting on Monday, as will Muslims in Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories as the Ramadan moon has been sighted in these countries.
Millions of Muslims around the world are marking the start of the holy month of Ramadan on Monday a time marked by fasting from dawn-to-dusk, prayers and good deeds .
Ramadan in Pakistan, Iran and other Muslim countries will begin on Tuesday.
Significance of Ramadan
Each day for the month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset to focus on spirituality, good deeds and charity.
As prescribed in the Quran, the daily fast starts before sunrise and ends at sunset.
Those who cannot abandon eating and drinking, because of old age, illness or other reasons, are exempted from fasting, but they still may partake in the blessings of this month.
Ramadan is more than abstinence from food and drink during the hours of daylight. It is a time for contemplation, devotion and remembrance of God, especially through the reading or recitation of the Quran.
One of the most significant hallmarks of Ramadan is the Night of Destiny or Value called Lailat al Qadr. The Quran says that on this special night, angels descend from heaven bringing peace and divine presence into the world. It is not specified exactly which night of the month of Ramadan may be the Night of Destiny, therefore people pray all night in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.
