Ramadan fasting

2023 - 3 - 23

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Image courtesy of "Al Arabiya English"

Ramadan around the world: 2023's longest and shortest fasting hours (Al Arabiya English)

As more than 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide prepare for the holy month of Ramadan, the hours of fasting this year will range from 10 to 18 hours depending.

The average fasting hours worldwide usually fall between 14 to 15 hours. These include Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Iraq, Yemen, Iran, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, and Palestine. Shortest fasting hours Jakarta, Indonesia: 13 hours Madrid, Spain: 15 hours Depending on the time of year, the fasting period can exceed 20 hours. Rome, Italy: 15 hours Zurich, Switzerland: 15 hours Longest fasting hours Ottawa, Canada: 17 hours Glasgow, Scotland: 17 hours Helsinki, Finland: 17 hours

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

When is Ramadan and who takes part in fasting? (The Guardian)

The exact dates change each year because Islam uses a calendar based on the cycles of the moon called the Hijri. This means Ramadan moves forward by 10 or 11 ...

In England and Wales, 6.5% of the population identify as Muslim. About two-thirds of Muslims live in the Asia-Pacific region and Indonesia, which alone has more than 209 million Muslim inhabitants. Zakat (meaning “the poor rate”) requires Muslims donate 2.5% of what they earn every year. Muslims tend to celebrate Eid with a small breakfast and give to charity before Eid prayers in congregation. While many follow Saudi Arabia’s sighting of the moon, others follow the leading religious authority in their own sect or country. It marks when the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, was revealed to the prophet Muhammad.

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Image courtesy of "Daily Mail"

How do I wish someone happy Ramadan 2023? (Daily Mail)

As the Islamic holy month approaches in 2023, there are many ways you can support your friends, family and co-workers who are observing the fast.

While it likely wouldn't cause offence to ask someone this question, many muslims practicing Ramadan have likely been asked this question dozens of times before. Pictured: Muslims sharing a meal after prayer on Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of Ramadan in May 2022 in Basra, Iraq How do I wish someone a happy Ramadan? Observing the period of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and fasting is intended to strengthen "taqwa", which can be translated as God consciousness. When the end of the fasting month is reached and Eid approaches, the greeting changes to 'Eid mubarak', which means 'blessed Eid'. Here are the ways you can wish people a happy Ramadan, plus the things you should avoid saying to someone fasting during the month...

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Image courtesy of "TIME"

Why Not All Observant Muslims Fast During Ramadan (TIME)

Aniqa Mian, a 29-year-old Muslim American who grew up in a religious household in Los Angeles, won't be fasting this Ramadan. She has conflicted feelings ...

“If I go back to even a slight bit of restricting, I will get back into the habit really quickly,” she says. For Muneeb Baig, a 24-year-old Pakistani American in Yonkers, New York, who doesn’t fast because he is diabetic, these questions can be “weird or awkward.” Baig, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of nine, tried to fast when he was 13 but had to break it halfway through. “On the heavier end of the spectrum, if a person isn’t even getting out of bed or brushing their teeth, we can’t expect them to take on fasting.” She wakes up early for fajr prayer and instead of eating the pre-dawn meal, she reads the Quran. “Last year, my mom asked me to try to fast; I fasted one day and I was in bed for three days,” Khan says. “There’s ways that I can make it feel like it’s still Ramadan for myself,” she says. But Awaad worries that some doctors may shut down the prospect of fasting for patients without taking the time to understand the details of their case. There’s also “judgment or shame that you’re not as good of a Muslim,” she adds. Syed, who sees about 25-30 clients a week in the Chicago area, tries to help them understand that they are exempt from fasting requirements as an act of mercy. “That’s really the opposite of fasting,” Khan says. While the restrictions around diet can help many Muslims feel spiritually connected, they can also be addictive and harmful for those with a habit or history of eating disorders. “It feels like I am making fasting seem like a bad thing; because I fasted, now I have an eating disorder.” The reality is more complicated.

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Image courtesy of "NBC News"

Ramadan 2023: Muslims discuss things they wish you knew about ... (NBC News)

A crescent moon sighting will kick off the holy month of Ramadan, sending many of the world's Muslims into a month-long fast from sunrise to sunset.

A new moon indicates the start of a new month, but Muslims will generally wait for the crescent moon to start the fast. Anyone who cannot partake in the fast in a healthy and safe way is exempt from it. Their energy levels might not be the same, but it's all for a reason and it's not meant to be easy. "A lot of people refrain from eating and drinking in front of a fasting individual out of respect, but some of them take it to the next level," said 30-year-old Tarek Halabi, who started fasting at 14 years old. "There are different schools of thought and fiqh, or jurisprudence, within Islam." If you see a Muslim friend not participating in the fast, don't call it out. But your Muslim friends also want you to know that they can still brush their teeth and shower — maintaining good hygiene is an integral part of Islam. The purpose is to make better choices and tune out the noise to make space for spirituality. To settle it once and for all: No, not even water. The fast is not meant as punishment, or to torture those observing it. So, don't be concerned for your Muslim peers and their lack of food and drink. Then, comes to feel for the less fortunate."

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Image courtesy of "The Irish Sun"

What do you say when opening and closing your Ramadan fast?... (The Irish Sun)

RAMADAN is observed by the Islamic community every year, and is a time of fasting and reflection.There are certain things that should be said when ope.

What do you say when closing your Ramadan fast? What do you say when opening your Ramadan fast? What do you say when opening and closing your Ramadan fast?

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Image courtesy of "Dublin Live"

When is Ramadan 2023, what are the rules and how long does it last (Dublin Live)

This year, Ramadan is expected to begin on Wednesday, March 22, depending on the sighting of the moon.

A person in this state must wash so that they can become ritually pure and take part in Ramadan fasting and prayers the following day. The fast is broken if you make yourself vomit deliberately, but not if it's done suddenly or involuntarily. Eyeliner and eye drops are allowed, and drops MUST be continued if someone is suffering glaucoma. Accidentally swallowing food or dust (such as airborne particles of sieved flour) or your own saliva will NOT invalidate the fast. You must not be in a state of janaba. Muslims believe the spiritual rewards of this practice are to be multiplied during Ramadan. Sexual relations are also banned during the hours of fasting. Doctors can give advice on whether you are fit and well enough to fast. Healthy adult Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan from dawn until dusk. This important annual observance in the Muslim community is commencing today, March 22, depending on the sighting of the moon. This year in Dublin, Ramadan will last 30 days - until April 21. Anyone who is ill or travelling during Ramadan and who doesn't take part in the fasting must make up the days of fasting later.

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Image courtesy of "Radio Nigeria Ibadan"

Ramadan fasting starts tomorrow – Sultan (Radio Nigeria Ibadan)

The Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Mohammed Abubakar, has announced the commencement of Ramadan fasting.

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Image courtesy of "New Delhi Times"

Muslim authorities say Ramadan fasting to begin Thursday - New ... (New Delhi Times)

Muslim authorities in Saudi Arabia and several other Middle Eastern countries say this year's fasting month of Ramadan will begin Thursday based on the ...

At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate the joyous Eid al-Fitr holiday, when children often receive new clothes and gifts. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and is required for all healthy Muslims. Even a tiny sip of water or a puff of smoke is enough to invalidate the fast.

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Image courtesy of "The Straits Times"

Fasting for Ramadan to start on Thursday; new payment method ... (The Straits Times)

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) announced on Wednesday that it would be introducing self-service kiosks at 16 mosques across the island to ...

However, Muslims are advised to pay early ahead of celebrations. The zakat fitrah rate is determined by the Muis Fitrah Committee, based on the cost of 2.3kg of rice, the staple food in Singapore. SINGAPORE – Muslims here will begin fasting for the month of Ramadan on Thursday, with the annual zakat fitrah rate this year set at $5 or $7.70 per person.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Listen to Ramadan greetings in different languages (Aljazeera.com)

As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is about to begin, here is how to wish someone Ramadan Mubarak in various languages.

These are Arabic sayings that translate to “blessed Ramadan” and “generous Ramadan”. Greetings are not limited to the spoken language. There are about 1.9 billion Muslims around the world, approximately 25 percent of the world population.

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Image courtesy of "Daily Post Nigeria"

Sultan of Sokoto announces commencement of Ramadan fasting (Daily Post Nigeria)

The Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Mohammed Abubakar, has announced the commencement of Ramadan.

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

Astronaut Sultan Alneyadi sees 16 sunsets daily on the space ... (CNN)

Observance of Muslim or Jewish holidays often depends on the sunset, but that can be hard for astronauts on board the International Space Station.

At the time, he told CNN that, although he is Jewish, he didn’t plan to observe Yom Kippur, which began at sundown the day of his launch in 2021. [said](https://makkah.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/a_guideline_ibadah_at_iss.pdf) his fasting could be postponed until he returned to Earth or he could fast in accordance with the time zone of the place from which he had launched. Heber does note, however, that it is theoretically possible to stretch what should be a one-day holiday into three days, depending on exactly where the spacecraft’s orbit lies. He’s one of fewer than a dozen Muslim astronauts who have traveled to space, and at the end of his mission in about five months, he will have been the first astronaut from the United Arab Emirates to complete a long-duration stay on the floating laboratory. And according to that, you either win or lose and I was just trying to see how you might reinterpret the rules for spaceflight since there’s no up or down,” he explained to the camera. He was also relieved of the obligation to attempt to kneel while praying — a difficult feat in zero gravity. A rabbi from the 18th century, Jacob Emden, was naturally not familiar with space travel. But Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon did attempt it in 2003, when he flew aboard a Space Shuttle Columbia mission and, in keeping with advice from “leading rabbinical experts,” he observed Shabbat in accordance with Cape Canaveral, Florida, time, the place from which he had launched. There will also be two Muslim festivals — Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, a celebration of the annual pilgrimage that Muslims make to Mecca, the holy land in Saudi Arabia, that begins June 28. Ramon and his six crewmates died when the Columbia orbiter broke apart during their return to Earth on February 1, 2003. But what if the sun’s clockwork were to suddenly change, as it does for astronauts riding aboard the International Space Station? For centuries, a setting sun has signaled the end of fasting rituals on holidays such as Ramadan and Yom Kippur, a cue to tuck into a delicious meal after a full day of abstaining from food and drink.

Ramadan explained: beyond fasting – The Daily Free Press (Daily Free Press)

It is a month devoted to fasting without food or water from dawn to dusk. Muslims celebrate to honor the revealing of the Quran to the Prophet. Ramadan ...

The hardest part of Ramadan is the week after. The inner fast hones in on spiritual acts and the nurturing of Islamic principles. Engaging in the inner fast reconnects a person with a higher power. The heart-centered fast is never-ending and does not stop at sunset. Helwa, the author approaches fasting with three spiritual stages — the outer fast, the inner fast and the heart-centered fast. Muslims celebrate to honor the revealing of the Quran to the Prophet.

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Image courtesy of "Al Arabiya English"

Ramadan: Experts weighs in on benefits of fasting during holy month (Al Arabiya English)

As Muslims across the world mark the first day of Ramadan on Thursday, experts say fasting can be advantageous to the health of adults and teenagers as.

But please select the correct type of exercise during fasting period,” Dr. “Fasting plays a role in lowering the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as hyperlipidemia, stroke, and hypertension.” “Another important advice is doing exercise during fasting.” “Exercise cures your low mood, depression and stress... “It is very important that you eat sensibly at iftar and suhoor. “Neurotransmitters are essential chemical components of the brain. They send signals that not only affects how we function, speak, and think but also how we feel. [Ramadan 2023: Experts advise teens on managing stress amid fasting and exams](https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2023/03/22/Ramadan-2023-Experts-advise-teens-on-managing-stress-amid-fasting-and-exams) [Ramadan 2023: How does fasting during the holy month affect your mental health?](https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2023/03/18/Fasting-during-Ramadan-can-improve-Muslims-mental-health-combat-anxiety-UAE-expert) “While fasting, we are not constantly exposing our bodies to unhealthy foods or ingredients such as added sugar, fat, salt, etc. Ramadan 2023: Experts advise teens on managing stress amid fasting and examsAs the holy month of Ramadan is set to begin on Thursday, doctors in the United Arab Emirates have advised Muslim teenagers on how to manage stress ... [Ramadan ](https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2023/03/18/Fasting-during-Ramadan-can-improve-Muslims-mental-health-combat-anxiety-UAE-expert)on Thursday, experts say [fasting can be advantageous ](https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2023/03/22/Ramadan-2023-Experts-advise-teens-on-managing-stress-amid-fasting-and-exams)to the health of adults and teenagers as well. “When we fast for long periods, it increases the natural growth factors in the brain and supports the survival and growth of the brain.

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Image courtesy of "The Times of Israel"

Ramadan mubarak: Holy month of fasting begins for Muslims across ... (The Times of Israel)

Observance muddled by Ukraine war-induced price hike on holiday treats; Mideast leaders aim to get through period without greater Israeli-Palestinian ...

Ramadan culminates in Laylat al-Qadr, or the Night of Destiny, during the last 10 nights of the month, when Muslims engage in intense late night worship. If so, please join The Times of Israel Community. They also are not expecting shorter work hours, as is the case in the public sector across much of the Arab world during Ramadan. Muslims traditionally break the fast at sunset as the Prophet Muhammad was said to have done, with a sip of water and a few dates. The normal bustle of cities dies down by late afternoon, with streets emptying and shops closing early. After sunset prayers, family and friends gather for “iftars” — feasts with local holiday treats like candies and nuts. Eating or drinking in public during the day is generally frowned upon in Muslim-majority countries. More than 1.8 billion Muslims, who account for around a quarter of the world’s population, are expected to observe Ramadan. They are also encouraged to refrain from cursing, fighting, gossip, or road rage throughout the holy month. But this year, there was broad agreement that it was beginning Wednesday evening, with Thursday declared as the first day of fasting. Muslim authorities in Saudi Arabia and several other Middle Eastern countries also announced that Ramadan was to begin Wednesday night. Over 80 Palestinians and 15 Israelis have been killed in the past three months alone.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Photos: Holy month of Ramadan begins for Muslims around the world (Aljazeera.com)

For the next 30 days, Muslims observing Ramadan will refrain from eating or drinking anything from sunrise to sunset.

They are also encouraged to refrain from cursing, fighting, gossiping and road rage throughout the holy month. Travellers are also exempt, including athletes attending tournaments away from home. Family and friends will gather for joyful nightly feasts.

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Image courtesy of "NBC 10 Philadelphia"

Ramadan Begins: Muslim Community Practices Fasting and Service ... (NBC 10 Philadelphia)

Muslim communities around the world began celebrating Ramadan Wednesday night. Fasting and service are both part of the observance practices and that is how ...

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Image courtesy of "Psychology Today"

The Purpose of Fasting for Ramadan (Psychology Today)

In my house, my parents gave me the option ‎to fast at seven, abstaining from food and drink. ‎We had to wake up at 6 a.m. to eat a meal ‎known as “suhoor,” an ...

Muslims greet each other with Ramadan Mubarak, meaning “I wish you a blessed month of Ramadan.” It is similar to “Merry Christmas,” which means “I wish you a Merry Christmas.” Just as you do not have to be a Christian to wish Merry Christmas, you do not have to be Muslim to say Ramadan Mubarak to your Muslim fellows. The communal aspect of Ramadan has come to a halt. Support your Muslim colleagues by allowing them to work remotely or even to provide time off such that they partake in the spiritual activities of Ramadan. Accommodate the needs of Muslims during Ramadan. Besides fasting, the most revered activity in Ramadan is reading the Quran, the holy book of Islam. People congregate at night instead of during the day. The plan worked until I woke up in the afternoon; I was living in the southern part of Yemen, where the afternoons get hot. to eat a meal known as “suhoor,” an Arabic word that means the time at dawn at which the meal is provided. Walking outside induces thirst, so I stayed in the house but had to go out and meet friends. Ramadan has three dimensions–personal, social, and [spiritual](https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/spirituality). in a meal known as “futoor,” an Arabic word that means “breaking the fast.” On my first day of fasting, my trick was to stay up all night–a common practice in many Arab and Muslim societies during Ramadan–so I could sleep through the day.

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Image courtesy of "Haaretz"

Why Muslim nations shouldn't make the Ramadan fast a matter of ... (Haaretz)

Piety cannot and must not be imposed by the state – the road to hell is paved with pious intentions. Khaled Diab is an Egyptian-Belgian journalist, ...

He is the author of "Intimate Enemies: Living with Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land." More than 27,000 have signed a petition telling the minister of justice that “ [wearing a skirt is not a crime](https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Au_ministre_de_la_Justice_et_des_Libertes_Mettre_une_robe_nest_pas_un_crime/?twi).” What the self-righteous pious don’t realize is that there are always those who are more pious and radical. Of course, this is an enormous violation of the rights of Chinese Muslims – but so is forcing people not to eat in public. More fundamentally, such coercion is a violation of the principle of religious freedom. Some argue that it is about not putting temptation in the way of the faster. In addition, such exemptions still infringe on the rights of non-practicing Muslims not to practice their religion. Shouldn’t the pious then have the right to impose their values on the rest of us all year round? Such pressure for citizens to exhibit public piety is counterproductive, as it promotes a spirit of hypocrisy – something that has undermined numerous Arab and Muslim societies. In Israel, for example, it has surprised me how the country must go into forced lockdown on Yom Kippur and, every Shabbat, public transport comes to a grinding halt and traffic is banned from ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods. In fact, Egypt needs to go further, and lift the ridiculous ban it has on One unedifying aspect of Ramadan is when piety stops becoming a personal quest and becomes a question of public interest and even legislation.

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Image courtesy of "AS English"

What is Ramadan? Can you drink water while fasting? (AS English)

Muslims all over the world have begun observing Ramadan, a holy month dedicated to prayer, spiritual reflection, and fasting from sunrise to sunset.

It is permissible to drink water during the evening meal and before the fast begins at daybreak. Since the fast requires that nothing whatsoever is consumed in between dawn and dusk, Muslims are not allowed to drink even water during the day. The practice of fasting aims to develop self-discipline, self-control, and empathy for the less fortunate.

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Image courtesy of "The Independent"

Can you vape while fasting for Ramadan? (The Independent)

This is because the Islamic year follows the Hijri calender, which is a lunar cycle. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the belief in one ...

[Al-Magrib Institute](http://ilmsource.com/2016/02/08/the-islamic-ruling-on-e-cigarettes-vaping-and-synthetic-marijuana/) says: “It is impermissible to use e-cigarettes because of their harmful nature, and in addition they also break the fast due to the ingestion of nicotine as well as the manner of its ingestion, identical to the rulings applied to normal cigarettes.” The majority of Islamic scholars also say that smoking is generally seen as something which is haram (forbidden) in Islam because of its harmful effect on the body. [fasting](/topic/fasting) from dawn until sunset in observance of the holy month of [Ramadan](/topic/ramadan) this week.

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Image courtesy of "Glasgow Live"

What Glaswegians can do to support colleagues who are fasting ... (Glasgow Live)

Muslims will be fasting from sunrise to sunset while carrying on with their daily activities - including work - so here's how you can offer your support to ...

The last ten days of Ramadan are considered to be especially holy. It’s like Christmas for Muslims – the biggest celebration of the year. It may be especially important to perform prayers on time through the week. Employers can help by ensuring there’s a quiet space in the workplace for prayers and by allowing short breaks. It usually means rising early and eating late, and may mean taking part in late night prayers at the mosque or their homes. Despite fasting for several hours, their day-to-life life doesn't stop and it's about finding the perfect balance. It means they cannot eat from sunrise to sunset as they focus on prayer, charity and gratitude. The end of the fasting period Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of the fasting period. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and the dates change every year - depending on the sighting of the moon. Going without food and water is a challenging time especially when you've got mountains of tasks to do at work but there's some things you can do to support your Muslim colleagues who are fasting - and no doubt they'll appreciate you for it. Ramadan has officially started and Muslims in Glasgow and around the world will be

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Image courtesy of "KMBC Kansas City"

Holy month of Ramadan begins for Muslims across the world (KMBC Kansas City)

The faithful are preparing for a month of dawn-to-dusk fasting intended to bring them closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less ...

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Image courtesy of "BreakingNews.ie"

Ramadan gets underway for hundreds of millions of Muslims (BreakingNews.ie)

And in Yemen, diplomats are pushing for a lasting truce after the recent rapprochement between regional powerhouses Iran and Saudi Arabia, which have been ...

Some 1,400 mosques have been destroyed or damaged by the quake, Turkish authorities say, leaving tens of thousands to pray in makeshift tents. Turkey’s fourth-largest mosque sustained slight damage in the earthquake and has been closed to worshippers, Turkish media said. In Afghanistan, people are observing their second Ramadan under Taliban rule. In addition to fasting, charity giving is another of Islam’s five pillars. Clashes in Yemen killed at least 16 people earlier this week. The two are on opposing sides of the war in Yemen, and despite announcements of restoring ties, sporadic fighting continues across the country.

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Image courtesy of "KCRA Sacramento"

Holy month of Ramadan begins for Muslims across the world (KCRA Sacramento)

The faithful are preparing for a month of dawn-to-dusk fasting intended to bring them closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less ...

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Image courtesy of "Anadolu Agency"

Muslims around globe break fasts at 1st iftar of Ramadan this year (Anadolu Agency)

Muslims in month of Ramadan fast from sunrise to sunset in fulfillment of one of Islam's 5 main pillars - Anadolu Agency.

[Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Ramadan is believed to be a time of intense spirituality as Muslims believe that the gates of heaven are open, and Allah's blessings and mercy are abundant. Millions of Muslims around the world broke their fast as the sun went down on Thursday evening, marking the first day of Ramadan, a holy month in the Islamic calendar.

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Image courtesy of "NBC Southern California"

Fasting for Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan Begins Today (NBC Southern California)

Muslims began fasting after sunrise Thursday for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, commemorating the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad.

In his message on Ramadan, President Joe Biden said, "Today especially, we remember the universal human right to practice, pray, and preach our faiths peacefully and openly. Individuals and organizations typically host iftars, the meal eaten when breaking the fast to benefit those in need. Fasting is one of the "five pillars" of Islam, along with the declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity and pilgrimage to Mecca.

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Image courtesy of "English Tempo.co"

Afghans Mark Start of Ramadan Fasting Month (English Tempo.co)

Afghanistan marks the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on Thursday, March 23.

During Ramadan, the fasting observers excluding children stay away from eating, drinking, smoking and conducting sexual relations from dawn to dusk. Muslim communities during the holy month engage in charity acts to assist needy families as part of the obligation to reduce poverty and promote social harmony. TEMPO.CO, Kabul - Afghanistan marked the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on Thursday, March 23, the Supreme Court of the war-torn country announced.

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