Breaking News Turkey and agencies
The holy month of Ramadan in Türkiye began on March 23.
Muslims in the country offered their first tarawih on Wednesday evening, a special Ramadan prayer.
29-day period of fasting
According to Diyanet, the country’s top religious body, Muslims in Türkiye will fast for 29 days this year.
Ramadan is believed to be a time of intense spirituality when angels and heaven’s gates surround the believers are open, and Allah’s blessings and mercy are abundant.
Moreover, Muslims in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, the UAE, Libya, Tunisia, and Iran also began fasting on Thursday. However, Bangladesh and India will welcome Ramadan on March 24 because the crescent moon of Ramadan could not be sighted yet.
From dawn to dusk
Fasting, held from dawn to dusk during Ramadan, is one of the Five Pillars (fundamental religious duties) of Islam. It is a time of self-examination and increased religious devotion.
There is also a holy night called Laylat al-Qadr, which means “Night of Power” when the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Muslims are instructed to seek the Night of Power during the last 10 days of Ramadan, particularly on the odd-numbered nights.
The holy month will see many of the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims commit to a strict daytime fast, often taking the opportunity to make promises to improve their lives.
The longest fasting
Muslims throughout the world fast for different hours. The longest fasting will take place in Greenland’s Nuuk city at 15 hours and 21 minutes, followed by Iceland’s capital Reykjavik at 15 hours and 16 minutes, Finland’s capital Helsinki at 15 hours and one minute, Stockholm and Glasgow at nearly 15 hours.
Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Fitr at the end of the holy month of Ramadan.