Fasting month of Ramadan starts with prayers

By: Khadija Chinese

MOSCOW, Russia: Thursday October 14 marked the first day of the fasting period of Ramadan in some countries while the Arabian Peninsula, some European and Asian countries start the holy month on Friday.

Russia, Libya and some other countries marked the first day of Ramadan on Thursday.

Officials on the Russian Council of Muftis say Russia has about 20 million Moslems, who can attend prayers in 7,000 or so mosques during this month.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Britain, Indonesia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen and Egypt all said the Ramadan fast begins at daybreak Friday, October 15th.

Iraqis were waiting for Marajay Al-Uzzam (religious authorities) on Thursday to declare whether Ramadan should start on Friday or Saturday.

In Pakistan and some neighboring countries Ramadan will begin on Saturday or Sunday depending on the sighting of crescent. India begins observing Ramadan on Friday or Saturday and similarly Tanzania.

In the Palestinian territories, the start of Ramadan -- a month of piety and fasting -- will coincide Friday with the 17th day of Israel's so-called “Days of Penitence” operation, which has already left 124 Palestinians martyred many of them civilians. Israeli curbs on the number of visitors being allowed into the Al-Aqsa mosque compound was also threatening to bring tempers to a boil. Some 200,000 Palestinian Muslim worshippers are expected to flock to the site during Ramadan.

In Saudi Arabia, the authorities warned non-Muslim foreign residents of the kingdom that they face deportation if they eat, drink or smoke in public from dawn to dusk during the fasting month.

In Egypt, Ramadan will start amid a high security alert following attacks on tourist-packed resorts by the Red Sea which killed at least 32 people. The strife in the region was reflected in the peaceful markets of Cairo, where some of the best traditional Ramadan dates were being sold under names such as “The intifada” or “The Iraqi Resistance”. The cheapest dates were dubbed “Sharon The Butcher”.

The first ten days of the holy month signify the acceptance of mercy from the Almighty, the second stands for purification from the sin, while the third symbolizes redeeming from hell-fire.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar, is the most holy month in Islam. It is the month when holy Quran was revealed to the Chief of Prophets and Messengers, Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (peace be upon him and his pure progeny).

The holy Quran clearly states that the purpose of prescribing fasting is to keep us away from evil, to inculcate piety.

The month also provides opportunities for families and friends to come together in mosques, imambargahs, husseiniyaat and homes to pray and break the daylong fast with festive dinners.

Ramadan also marks the death anniversary of holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his pure progeny)’s respected spouse Maleeka-tol-Arab Hazrat Khadija-tol-Kubra (peace be on her, birth anniversary of holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his pure progeny)’s grandson Hazrat Imam Hassan (peace be on him), martyrdom anniversary of Ameer-ol-Mominin Hazrat Ali Ibne Abi Talib (peace be on him) and Night of Qadr.

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