Muslims are marking the start of Ramadan on Saturday with a month of fasting and intense prayers.
The ninth month on the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is believed to be the time when the doors of hell are firmly sealed and the doors to heaven are wide open.
It is believed that the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during Ramadan.
The lunar month lasts between 29 and 30 days depending on sighting of the moon.
After failing to sight the new moon on Thursday night, Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court announced that the first day of Ramadan fasting would be Saturday, May 27.
Ghana also failed to sight the Ramadan crescent on Thursday, after the Chief Imam Osman Nuhu Sharubutu’s announcement to Muslims in the country to look out for it.
The moon sighting is usually done with telescopes or the naked eye before it is announced.
With just a few days to the start of the holy month, Egypt experienced a soar in food prices as people rushed to the markets to stock up, local media reported.
Food prices rose steadily in the country with annual inflation hitting its highest in the month of April from 33% and up to 44%.
Muslims in South Africa’s coastal city, Cape Town have also held their annual ’786 Ramadaan Expo’ – a three-day trade fair offering everything from food, spices, toys, perfumes and clothes.
Fasting during Ramadan means to abstain from eating, drinking and sex from dawn to dusk for the entire month. It is one of the five pillars of Islam and is compulsory for all Muslims except those who are ill, travelling, elderly, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic or menstruating.
Many pilgrims from around the world travel to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah for Umrah – pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time of the year – during Ramadan.
Muslims are encouraged to avoid gossip, arguments and fighting while they observe self-restraint, self-control and self-discipline during the month.
They are also encouraged to engage in more charity work while they fast to bring them closer to God and remind them of the suffering of the less fortunate.
