Saudi Arabia, other Muslim countries welcome start of Ramadan

The more than 1.8 billion Muslims around the world have started Ramadan, a holy month, in fasting mode.

After the crescent moon was visible in the kingdom, which is home to Islam’s two most holy sites, Saudi Arabia and the majority of other Middle Eastern nations greeted the beginning of Ramadan late on Friday.

The official Saudi Press Agency posted on X on Friday, “The Supreme Court has decided that tomorrow, Saturday, is the first day of the month of Ramadan.”

Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Sudan, and Tunisia all announced on Saturday that they would start the daytime fast in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank. On Saturday, Sunni Muslims in Lebanon began their daily fast.

Sunday was designated the first day of Ramadan by the offices of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and the top Shia cleric in Iraq, Ali al-Sistani.

According to its Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Morocco will begin the daytime fast starting on Sunday.

The moon will be seen on Saturday night in Pakistan and India, with Sunday’s scheduled fast followed.

And in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, the most populous Muslim-majority nation on the planet, celebrated Ramadan on Saturday while neighboring nations like Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines will observe the holiday on Sunday.

Source: Aljazeera