The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan will start on Monday, Saudi Arabia and different Center Japanese nations introduced, in opposition to a backdrop of devastating battle in Gaza.

Saudi Arabia, which is residence to Islam's holiest websites, stated on Sunday by means of its official press company SPA that the Supreme Courtroom had introduced “Monday, March 11, 2024, the start of the blessed month of Ramadan for this 12 months.”

Ramadan is without doubt one of the 5 pillars of Islam.

After the sighting of the crescent moon, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar additionally introduced a Monday begin for Ramadan, by means of their very own official articles.

The Islamic group of Egypt, Dar al-Ifta, additionally confirmed that Ramadan will start on Monday, as within the Palestinian Territories together with Gaza.

Iran had beforehand set the beginning of Ramadan for Tuesday after its “Estehlal” moon statement workplace stated it had not been potential to watch “the crescent of Ramadan”.

In Saudi Arabia, the beginning of the holy month had been referred to as into query after some observers within the kingdom stated the moon was obscured by “cloudy climate and dirt particles”.

However the closing affirmation of the sighting got here by means of the Al Majmaah College Astronomical Observatory in Riyadh.

As he introduced Tuesday as the start of Ramadan in Jordan, the Grand Mufti of the dominion Ahmed Hasnat requested God to “relieve the anguish of our oppressed in Gaza” and “relieve the affliction and the “aggression from them”.

Oman and Libya can even mark the primary day of Ramadan on Tuesday.

“Utterly completely different”

Throughout Ramadan, observant Muslims abstain from consuming and consuming from daybreak to nightfall, and historically collect with household and mates to interrupt their quick within the night.

It’s also a time of prayer, when the devoted converge in giant numbers in mosques, particularly at night time.

The battle between Israel and Hamas within the Gaza Strip has forged a protracted shadow over festivities within the area, with hopes dashed {that a} ceasefire deal may very well be reached earlier than Ramadan.

Israel tightens safety in Jerusalem's Outdated Metropolis as Ramadan begins


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In a market in Rafah, the southern Gaza metropolis the place almost 1.5 million individuals have sought refuge, Palestinians on Sunday complained about meals shortages and the uncertainty of battle within the holy month.

“In fact, this Ramadan is totally completely different from all of the Ramadans which have handed earlier than,” stated Bassel Yassin, an agricultural engineer.

Hassuna Tabib Hassnan, a dentist displaced from Gaza Metropolis within the north, stated she didn’t understand how the month would finish – “in our houses, in a store, on the sea within the north or within the south”.

Hassnan added: “We hoped that by Ramadan (we) can be in our houses, however sadly it’s clear that we live in displacement, ache and oppression.”

The battle was sparked by an October 7 assault by Hamas militants in southern Israel that resulted in round 1,160 deaths, largely civilians, in keeping with an AFP tally based mostly on official Israeli figures.

Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza, aimed toward destroying Hamas, has killed at the very least 31,045 Palestinians, largely girls and youngsters, in keeping with the well being ministry within the Hamas-ruled territory.

The UN has warned that famine within the Palestinian territory is “virtually inevitable” until one thing modifications within the battle, with assist falling to ranges properly beneath pre-war ranges.

Purchasing in a shopping center in Riyadh, Saudi authorities worker Faisal, who most well-liked to offer solely his title due to the sensitivity of the matter, stated it was “the worst Ramadan I’ve ever skilled in my life “.

The person, in his fifties, added: “I really feel ashamed as I purchase meat and poultry for my household, whereas the individuals of Gaza are ravenous.”

(AFP)

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