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WORLD NEWS Monday 6 May 2019

Month of Ramadan fasting for many Muslims begins Monday

DUBAI, United Arab Emir- dan. Often, restaurants more," said Rushdi Anbar,
ates (AP) — Muslims in shutter their doors during a 42-year-old architect, as
Southeast Asian countries the day. he hurried through one of
like Indonesia and Malay- Those exempt from fasting the few markets still open.
sia, and much of the Mid- include children, the el- In 2014, the latest of three
dle East, including Egypt, derly, the sick, women who deadly wars between Isra-
Iraq and Saudi Arabia, will are pregnant, nursing or el and Gaza's Hamas rulers
fast on Monday for the start menstruating, and people began in the second week
of the month of Ramadan. travelling. of Ramadan and lasted for
Millions more, however, in The Ramadan fast begins 50 days. Anwar Zeydieh, a
India, Pakistan and Iran, will with a pre-dawn meal mother of three, said she
likely be marking the start called "suhoor" to prepare fears a similar scenario this A cleric looks through binoculars to sight the new moon that
of the lunar month on Tues- hungry stomachs for the Ramadan. "I don't think we signals the start of the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan,
at the shrine of the Shiite Saint Imam Abdulazim in Shahr-e-Ray,
day based on moon sight- long day ahead. A typi- are ready to endure all this south of Tehran, Iran, Sunday, May 5, 2019.
ings there. cal suhoor often includes suffering again."q Associated Press
Muslims follow a lunar cal- bread, vegetables, fruits,
endar, and a moon-sight- yogurt, tea, as well as lentils
ing methodology can lead and beans.
to different countries de- At sunset, when it's time
claring the start of Rama- to mark the end of the
dan a day or two apart. daylong fast, families and
Traditionally, countries an- friends gather for an eve-
nounce if their moon-sight- ning meal known as "iftar."
ing council spots the Ra- Muslims typically break
madan crescent the eve- their fast as the Prophet
ning before fasting begins. Muhammad did some
Across the world, Muslims 1,400 years ago, by eating
fast each day for the en- sweet dates and drinking
tire month of Ramadan, water, followed by a sun-
abstaining from food and set prayer. Then, the iftar
drink from dawn to dusk. meals are enjoyed. These
That means around 15 are often lavish affairs of
hours without food, water, home-cooked platters of
cigarettes or caffeine. rice, stews and meat, as
Fasting is aimed at draw- well as spreads of desserts
ing worshippers closer to and other sweets.
God through self-control, While Muslims around the
remembrance and humil- world welcomed the start
ity. The challenge of fasting of Ramadan with tradition-
for many is also a chance al greetings and messages
to reset spiritually and phys- of peace, the start of the
ically, kick bad habits and Muslim holy month in the
purify the heart. Gaza Strip was marked by
During the day, Muslims sounds of outgoing Pales-
must also abstain from sex, tinian rockets and incom-
gossip and cursing, and are ing Israeli airstrikes.
encouraged to focus on Families often shop for food
meditative acts like prayer, items in the days before
reading the Quran and Ramadan, but most shops
charity. and markets in Gaza were
It's common practice closed due to the heavy
across many Muslim-major- round of cross-border fight-
ity nations for liquor stores ing.
and hotels to curb the sale "We got used to this situa-
of alcohol during Rama- tion, we don't care any-

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