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Cairo — Saudi Arabia and several other Arab countries have announced that the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan will start today. Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, announced that yesterday would be the final day of the lunar month of Shaaban, the Saudi-owned broadcaster Al Arabiya reported. Similar official announcements were made by religious authorities in Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen and Palestine.
The beginning and end of Ramadan depends on the sighting of the new moon.
During Ramadan, devout Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to sunset.
Ramadan this year coincides with the summer heat in the Middle East where the fast could reach 15 hours a day.
Fasting is one of Islam’s five pillars, alongside declaration of faith, prayer five times a day, alms-giving, and the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Israeli defence officials have announced a series of goodwill gestures to the Palestinians ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Cogat, the Israeli defence body in charge of Palestinian civilian affairs, said late on Tuesday that it will allow 800 residents of the blockaded Gaza Strip to attend Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Ramadan begins today.
It is also allowing 200 Gaza residents to visit relatives in the West Bank, and permitting 300 families from abroad to enter Gaza to visit relatives.
The agency says it will coordinate special shuttle buses to allow West Bank residents to pray in Jerusalem.
With Mideast peace efforts on hold, Israel has taken a series of steps meant to improve the daily lives of Palestinians and to reduce tensions. – AFP
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