Today, Monday 11th March, marks the beginning of the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan. The crescent moon was sighted on Sunday night in Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites in Islam. This for the Muslim faithful is an indicator for the start of the holy fasting for many of the world’s 1.8 billion
During this month, Muslims around the world focus on prayer, fasting, giving to charity, and religious devotion.
As is customary, Muslims wake up early to eat a pre-dawn meal called suhoor, and after sunset, they have a dinner called iftar, ending a day of fasting. People also gather at mosques for prayers.
Many Muslims, except children, the sick, and the elderly, abstain from food, drink and other activities during daylight hours in Ramadan.
Ramadan is regarded as the holiest time of the Islamic year and commemorates the period when the Qu’ran, the Islamic Holy Book, is believed to have been revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
