Ramazan in Saudi Arabia, UAE begins on Monday

In Pakistan, the central and zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committees will meet tomorrow for moon sighting

RIYADH: The annual fasting month of Ramazan is due to begin Monday in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, religious authorities in the four Muslim countries said.

The announcement was made on Sunday after the sighting of the crescent moon.

Other Muslim countries in the Middle East and North Africa are also expected to begin observing Ramazan on Monday or on Tuesday.



In Pakistan, the central and zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committees will convene on Monday to sight the crescent.

During Ramazan, Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and having sex from dawn to dusk.

They break the fast with a meal known as iftar and before dawn they have a second opportunity to eat and drink during suhur.

Ramazan is sacred to Muslims because tradition says the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) during that month. It is followed by the Eidul Fitr festival.