Saudi Arabia said that the
Ramadan fasting will begin on
Thursday across the globe, the
official Saudi news agency SPA
reported on Tuesday.
The new moon of Ramadan was
not spotted on Tuesday evening
and Wednesday will mark the last
day of the Islamic month of
Shaaban, SPA said, citing religious
authorities in the kingdom.
The beginning and end of Islamic
months are determined by the
sighting of the new moon.
Egypt’s Mufti, the country’s top
religious authority, said in a
televised speech that the holy
month will start on Thursday in
the most populous Arab country.
Also, the United Arab Emirates,
Jordan and Iraq’s Sunni Muslim
minority also announced that the
holy month of Ramadan will start
on Thursday.
During Ramadan, Muslims have to
abstain from eating, drinking and
smoking from dawn to sunset.
Devout Muslims also mark the
month by intense worship,
performing special nightly
prayers and reading Islam’s holy
book, the Koran.
Fasting is one of Islam’s five
pillars, alongside declaration of
monotheism, prayer five times a
day, alms-giving, and the
pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi
Arabia.
