Sunni-Muslim countries announced that they will mark the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan on Saturday. However, Shiite Iran will begin the festival on Sunday.
Many Indonesian Muslims gathered in the mosque on Friday.Image: YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP
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Muslims around the world are set to mark the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, set to begin on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries, as well as other Sunni-majority countries, are set to start the month on Saturday.
"The Supreme Court has decided that tomorrow, Saturday, is the first day of the month of (Ramadan)," the official Saudi Press Agency announced.
Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, the Palestinian territories, Sudan and Tunisia will also begin the daytime fast on Saturday.
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, will also begin celebrations on Saturday.
Indonesia's Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar announced Friday that Ramadan will begin on Saturday after the sighting of the crescent moon was confirmed by Islamic astronomy observers in Indonesia's westernmost province of Aceh.
However, Shiite-dominated Iran declared Sunday the first day of Ramadan. Morocco, which has a Sunni Muslim population, will be the only country to start observing the daytime fast on Sunday, its Islamic Affairs Ministry said.
Ramadan and Lent share fasting, other similarities
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How is Ramadan celebrated?
During Ramadan, believers are encouraged to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours. Donating to the poor is also encouraged.
Muslims are also encouraged to not engage in gossip, fighting or cursing during the month.
People often buy new clothes and shop for sweets to prepare. Feasts are prepared for pre-dawn and post-sundown meals, known as "iftar."
Each country and region also has its own different ways of marking the festival. In Indonesia, parades and cleaning graves are also a part of the festival.
The fasting is supposed to remind believers of the suffering of the poor and bring them closer to God.
Ramadan: Muslim holy month in pictures
Muslims all over the world celebrate the holy month of Ramadan with religious services, charity, fasting and evening festivities.
Image: SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images
Focus on the 5 pillars of Islam
It's Ramadan for millions of Muslims around the world. For a month, they abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk. Fasting is intended to focus the mind and bring worshippers closer to God. Here in Hyderabad, the fourth largest city in India, young students learn more about the five pillars of Islam.
Image: NOAH SEELAM/AFP
Watching for the crescent moon
The start of Ramadan can vary from country to country because it begins with the sighting of the crescent moon in the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Different countries see the crescent moon at different times, depending on where on the globe they are located. In Indonesia, teams observe the sky with binoculars to determine when to announce the start of the holy month there.
Image: Willy Kurniawan/REUTERS
Ramadan in a war zone
This year, Ramadan is overshadowed by the conflict in Gaza. It had been hoped that a cease-fire could be negotiated before the holiday began, but attempts to come to an agreement have faltered, leaving locals in Gaza — like these children in Deir Al-Balah — trapped in a worsening humanitarian situation.
Image: Omar Qattaa/Anadolu/picture alliance
Light amid the rubble
Over a million people are seeking shelter from the Israeli military campaign in Rafah, in Gaza. The United Nations has said there is danger of starvation and, citing the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, reported that 25 people have died from malnutrition and dehydration there, mostly children. Religious authorities have said people in Gaza do not need to fast if they feel weak.
Image: SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images
Breaking the fast after sunset
There are around 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide, most of them in India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Bangladesh. After fasting ends during Ramadan, families, friends and neighbors gather for "iftar," a meal after sunset. In Delhi, India, long tables are set up on the streets so people can eat together.
Image: Anushree Fadnavis/REUTERS
Washing of the soul
A group of Indonesian women in Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta, follow the local tradition of washing themselves in the Cisadane River before Ramadan. Water is meant to cleanse their souls before they start fasting. Almost 90% of the population in Indonesia is Muslim and Ramadan is celebrated with colorful torchlight parades and elaborate meals after sunset.
Image: Achmad Ibrahim/AP Photo/picture alliance
Paying for Ramadan can be difficult
In Turkey, food prices have risen. According to official figures, inflation was over 70% in February. This is why some families are worried they won't be able to afford to provide the traditionally lavish "iftar" meals.
Image: Murad Sezer/REUTERS
A time of tranquility
The imposing Massalikul Jinaan mosque in Dakar, Senegal, is one of the largest in West Africa. This year in Senegal, Ramadan falls in the middle of the campaign for the postponed presidential election. The tranquility that can be found in this house of prayer is a welcome change for some.
Image: JOHN WESSELS/AFP
Prayer in Times Square
Dozens of Muslims gathered in New York's Times Square at the start of Ramadan there on March 10. Together, they prayed the "tarawih," an extra-long prayer held during Ramadan.
Image: DAVID DEE DELGADO/Getty Images/AFP
New clothes for the holidays
This young Pakistani in Peshawar is trying on a traditional head covering to wear during prayer. Because of the additional socializing that occurs around Ramadan, during prayer and "iftar," many people like to buy new clothes during the month.
