For many, this year’s celebration is marred by Israel’s war on Gaza.
Saudi authorities spotted the crescent moon and declared the holy month of Ramadan for many of the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims.
Officials saw the moon Sunday evening, making Monday the first day of the fasting month, Saudi state television reported.
This month, Muslims abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset, as they think more deeply about their faith and hold family gatherings. For many, this year’s celebration is marred by Israel’s war on Gaza.
After officials in predominantly Sunni Saudi Arabia spotted the moon, many Gulf Arab countries, as well as Iraq, Syria and Egypt, followed the announcement to confirm that they would also begin to fast on Monday.
However, some countries in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, announced that they would start Ramadan on Tuesday after missing sighting of the crescent moon.
Oman, in the far east of the Arabian Peninsula, also announced that Ramadan would begin on Tuesday. Jordan will also begin Ramadan on Tuesday.
Ramadan operates according to a lunar calendar. and moon sighting methodologies often vary between countries, meaning some countries declare the start of the month earlier or later.
Saudi King Salman specifically referenced the war in Gaza in his comments following the Ramadan announcement.
“While we are saddened that the month of Ramadan falls this year, in light of the attacks suffered by our Palestinian brothers, we emphasize the need for the international community to assume its responsibilities, put an end to these brutal crimes and provide safe humanitarian relief. and emergency corridors,” said the king.
Saudi Arabia has urged its public to observe the skies from Sunday evening in anticipation of the sighting of the crescent moon.
In Iran, which considers itself the world leader of Shiite Muslims, authorities generally start Ramadan a day after Sunnis begin. The office of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced that Ramadan would begin in that country on Tuesday, according to the official IRNA news agency.
During Ramadan, those who observe eat a pre-dawn meal, or “suhoor,” to sustain themselves during the day, then break their fast with an “iftar,” often a large meal.
During the month, Muslims try to avoid conflict and focus on acts of charity. However, Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip poses a major threat to many Muslims. It was hoped that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas could be reached before the start of Ramadan.
More than 31,000 people have been killed in Israel’s attack on Gaza, according to Palestinian health authorities in the besieged territory, and humanitarian agencies have warned of imminent famine in parts of the Gaza Strip.
Hassuna Tabib Hassnan, a displaced dentist from Gaza City in the north of the besieged Gaza Strip, told the AFP news agency: “We had hoped that during Ramadan (we) would be at home, but unfortunately, it is clear that we will live in displacement, pain and oppression.
Meanwhile, Israel’s restrictions on Muslims praying at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, could also increase tensions in the region.