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Ramadan Mubarak!
Muslims Observe Start of Ramadan
VOA News
Muslims around the world are marking the start of Islam's holy month of Ramadan.
The start of the holiday varies in Muslim communities and countries depending on the sighting of the crescent moon.
The first day of fasting began Monday in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, as well as the United States and the majority of the Middle East. Muslims in Libya marked the start of Ramadan Sunday, and Iran will begin to observe the fasting month Tuesday.
During Ramadan, Muslims awaken long before the pre-dawn call to prayer. Eating and drinking is a priority in those early hours, because once the sun rises, a day of fasting begins.
Muslims are expected to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual relations until sunset, when the fast is broken with a meal called "iftaar."
In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians observed the start of Ramadan Monday under the strain of an Israeli blockade, in place since Hamas seized control of the territory last year. Pakistan's government marked Ramadan with the suspension of a major military operation against militants in the country's northwest.
In Iraq, Sunni Muslims began the month of fasting Monday, while most Shi'ite Iraqis are expected to begin Tuesday. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called for peace and security throughout the month.
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan marks the time more than 1,400 years ago when Muslims believe the words of Islam's holy book, the Koran, were revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.
Ramadan will continue for the month of September, concluding with a 3-day celebration called Eid al-Fitr.
Source: Voice of America
King, crown prince greet Muslims
Arab News
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, have greeted the people in the Kingdom on the occasion of the beginning of Ramadan in a message, acting Culture and Information Minister Saud Al-Mutahammi said.
King Abdullah also ordered the payment of SR1.15 billion to all families benefiting from the social security system in the Kingdom so that their families meet their additional expenses in the month of fasting.
"The month of virtue, blessings, mercy and forgiveness has dawned, filling our minds with feelings of affection and sympathy and kindling noble human sentiments," the king and crown prince said in the joint Ramadan message.
The message continued: "This month teaches us lessons on how a man should behave with other human beings and how the rich should behave with the poor."
Saudi Arabia has been fulfilling its responsibility of defending Islam and striving to serve Muslim interests. It also has been conducting dialogues with other cultures and religions with the aim of driving deep the principles of peace, justice and universal human welfare, they said in the message.
The king and crown prince sent cables of Ramadan greetings to the leaders of Arab and Muslim countries.
They included President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, King Abdallah of Jordan, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain and President Abdullah Gul of Turkey.
The king and crown prince received Ramadan greetings from the kings of Jordan and Bahrain, the emir of Qatar and the Egyptian president.
With regard to the king's special Ramadan aid to the poor, Minister of Social Affairs Yousuf Al-Othaimeen said the ministry will take immediate steps to distribute the Ramadan aid.
The weaker sections such as the aged, sick, handicapped, widows, orphans and dependents of prisoners are the ones who will benefit from the pension amounts distributed by the social security scheme, Al-Othaimeen said. "This amount will be in addition to the monthly pensions they receive at the beginning of every month," the minister said.
At present nearly 1.5 million Saudis receive pensions and financial assistance from the ministry and the government has allocated SR5.2 billion for that purpose.
The ministry also provides welfare to Saudi women who are landless, single and with at least two children. As soon as a son becomes 18, however, the mother becomes his dependent and in many cases, she is no longer eligible for payment from the ministry.
Source: Arab News
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