Ramazan Kareem

Published July 20, 2012
Majd Osama, 13, shows his father, Osama Shawqi, 41, the crescent moon's course in the sky through an application on his iPad in order to try to locate the crescent of Ramazan in Amman,  Jordan. ? Photo by AP
Majd Osama, 13, shows his father, Osama Shawqi, 41, the crescent moon's course in the sky through an application on his iPad in order to try to locate the crescent of Ramazan in Amman, Jordan. ? Photo by AP
A woman walks past a signboard on a road, a day before the start of the holy month of Ramadan, in Nigeria's northern city of Kano. ? Photo by Reuters
A woman walks past a signboard on a road, a day before the start of the holy month of Ramadan, in Nigeria's northern city of Kano. ? Photo by Reuters
Palestinian women walk towards the Israeli checkpoint of Qalandia near the West Bank city of Ramallah before crossing it on their way to Jerusalem to attend the first Friday prayers of Ramazan at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound. ? Photo by AFP
Palestinian women walk towards the Israeli checkpoint of Qalandia near the West Bank city of Ramallah before crossing it on their way to Jerusalem to attend the first Friday prayers of Ramazan at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound. ? Photo by AFP
Saudis use a telescope to monitor the new moon of Ramadan in the Saudi city of Taif. ? Photo by AFP
Saudis use a telescope to monitor the new moon of Ramadan in the Saudi city of Taif. ? Photo by AFP
A Palestinian reads from the Quran during the dawn prayer on the first day of Ramazan at a mosque in the West Bank city of Jenin. ? Photo by AP
A Palestinian reads from the Quran during the dawn prayer on the first day of Ramazan at a mosque in the West Bank city of Jenin. ? Photo by AP
A Palestinian reads from the Quran during the dawn prayer on the first day of Ramazan at a mosque in the West Bank city of Jenin. ? Photo by AP
A Palestinian reads from the Quran during the dawn prayer on the first day of Ramazan at a mosque in the West Bank city of Jenin. ? Photo by AP
A Palestinian boy plays with fireworks as he celebrates the start of Ramazan in the West Bank city of Nablus. ? Photo by AP
A Palestinian boy plays with fireworks as he celebrates the start of Ramazan in the West Bank city of Nablus. ? Photo by AP
Muslim boys attend a mass prayer marking the start of Ramadan at the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Metro Manila. ? Photo by Reuters
Muslim boys attend a mass prayer marking the start of Ramadan at the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Metro Manila. ? Photo by Reuters
A vendor prepares Jallab and Rose, traditional Ramazan drinks, in preparation for Muslims breaking their fast at sundown in Sidon's Old City in southern Lebanon. ? Photo by Reuters
A vendor prepares Jallab and Rose, traditional Ramazan drinks, in preparation for Muslims breaking their fast at sundown in Sidon's Old City in southern Lebanon. ? Photo by Reuters
A program is filmed in a studio of a new TV channel which is being managed and run exclusively by women who wear the full veil, to be launched this weekend, in Cairo on the first day of Ramazan. ? Photo by Reuters
A program is filmed in a studio of a new TV channel which is being managed and run exclusively by women who wear the full veil, to be launched this weekend, in Cairo on the first day of Ramazan. ? Photo by Reuters
An Indonesian Muslim attends prayer at Baiturrahman mosque in Banda Aceh. ? Photo by AFP
An Indonesian Muslim attends prayer at Baiturrahman mosque in Banda Aceh. ? Photo by AFP
A Jordanian man  looks at decorations for Ramadan in Amman,  Jordan. ? Photo by AP
A Jordanian man looks at decorations for Ramadan in Amman, Jordan. ? Photo by AP

Ramazan commenced on Friday in most Arab countries, religious authorities announced, but in Oman and Syria as well as for Iraq’s Sunni Muslims and in non-Arab Iran it will start on Saturday. Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, as well as Lebanon’s Sunni Muslims, were among those to announce a Friday start. During Ramazan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and strive to be more pious and charitable. The month begins with the sighting of the new moon, which varies from country to country. – Photos by AFP, AP and Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

Business concerns
Updated 26 Apr, 2024

Business concerns

There is no doubt that these issues are impeding a positive business clime, which is required to boost private investment and economic growth.
Musical chairs
26 Apr, 2024

Musical chairs

THE petitioners are quite helpless. Yet again, they are being expected to wait while the bench supposed to hear...
Global arms race
26 Apr, 2024

Global arms race

THE figure is staggering. According to the annual report of Sweden-based think tank Stockholm International Peace...
Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...