Muslims around the world gear up for holy month of Ramadan
6 Jun 2016 1:33 PM IST6 Jun 2016 1:33 PM IST
The Moon Sighting Committee in Oman said that the moon was not sighted and therefore the fasting month will begin on Tuesday.
The decree has urged clerics to refrain from attending such programmes, saying Shariah requirements are ignored in their proceedings. (Photo: AP)- ranian astrologist Mohsen Ghazi Mirsaeed, centre searches the sky with binoculars for the new moon that signals the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan on top of the landmark, the Milad telecommunication tower, in Tehran, Iran.
- An Egyptian vender wipes a glass window decorated with Arabic that reads Ramadan is generous' in preparation for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
- The fast is intended to bring the faithful closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less fortunate.
- It is common for Muslims to break their fast with family and friends and charities organize free meals for the public at mosques and other public spaces.
- Many break their fast as the Prophet Muhammad did around 1,400 years ago, with a sip of water and some dates at sunset followed by prayer.
- The faithful spend the month of Ramadan in mosques for evening prayers known as 'taraweeh,' while free time during the day is often spent reading the Quran and listening to religious lectures.
- A Muslim woman reads the Koran during the first day of the fasting month of Ramadan at a Mosque on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia.
- Traditionally, countries announce if their moon-sighting council spots the Ramadan crescent the evening before fasting begins.
- Muslims follow a lunar calendar and a moon-sighting methodology that can lead to different countries declaring the start of Ramadan a day or two apart.
- Following these announcements, a mosque in Tampa, Florida announced to its followers that they too would celebrate the first day's fasting Monday.
- Local media in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, also said Muslims there would begin fasting Monday, as will Muslims in Singapore, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories, among others.
- Saudi Arabia's state TV announced the new moon of Ramadan was spotted Sunday evening.
Millions of Muslims around the world will mark the start of the holy month of Ramadan on Monday, a time marked by intense prayer, dawn-to-dusk fasting and nightly feasts.
The Moon Sighting Committee in Oman said that the moon was not sighted and therefore the fasting month will begin on Tuesday.
Next Story