Summary Dozens of Muslims visited mosques to offered first Tarawih on Friday.
NEW YORK (Dunya News) - Muslims living in United States and other European countries are fasting to welcome the sacred month of Ramazan that began today (Saturday).
Dozens of Muslims visited mosques to offered first Tarawih on Friday. On the occasion, they expressed happiness and thanked Allah Almighty for the blessing of this month.
Talking to Dunya News, the devotees felicitated Ramazan to the entire Muslim nation and prayed for the better and right path.
In his message, US president Donald Trump said that: "On behalf of the American people, I would like to wish all Muslims a joyful Ramazan. At its core, the spirit of Ramazan strengthens awareness of our shared obligation to reject violence, to pursue peace, and to give to those in need who are suffering from poverty or conflict."
"During this month of Ramadan, let us be resolved to spare no measure so that we may ensure that future generations will be free of this scourge and able to worship and commune in peace," the statement further stated.
"May God bless you and your families," the president concluded.
What is Ramazan?
Ramazan is one of the five pillars of Islam. The others are the profession of faith, "there is no true God but Allah and Mohammed (PBUH) is his messenger"; the obligation to pray five times a day; charity; and the pilgrimage to Mecca.
How does it take place?
It lasts 29 or 30 days. During that time, believers abstain from eating, drinking -- even of water -- smoking, and sexual relations between sunrise and sunset.
The fast is conceived as a spiritual struggle against the seduction of earthly pleasures.
But for the evening "break-fast", known as "iftar", festive meals traditionally bring families together and there is intense social activity.
The Eid al-Fitr festival marks the end of Ramazan.
Who is involved?
Fasting is required of all believers who have passed the age of puberty, but it is recommended that children be progressively exposed to the practice.
Pregnant or nursing women, the sick, travellers, and fighters have the right not to fast, although they have a duty to carry it out as soon as they are able to.
Ramazan risks being particularly hard during much of the Muslim world at this time of year when daytime temperatures are high, above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in parts of the Middle East.
How is date of Ramazan determined?
Ramazan corresponds to the ninth month of the Hijri calendar to which Muslims refer for their religious festivals.
It relies on the cycle of the moon.
This calendar has 11 days less than the solar calendar, meaning that the start and end dates of Ramazan vary each year.
The first day is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon, the first quarter of a new moon. It must be visible to the naked eye and recorded. Scholars meet to determine the exact timing, which varies around the globe.
The month of Ramazan is to begin on May 28 (Sunday) Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
