Millions of Muslims across the globe and in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus welcomed the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan, one of the three months of great importance for the faithful with the first night prayer (tarawih) on Wednesday.
The fasting month commenced on Thursday at dawn and the first day of fasting will end at 6.09pm.
The first Tarawih prayer of the “Sultan of Eleven Months” – Ramadan – was held in mosques across the TRNC on Wednesday evening.
Ramadan in the TRNC will last 29 days this year, according to the lunar month calculations as the crescent of the month of Shawwal will be sighted on the evening of the 29th day of Ramadan.
The fasting month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. During Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Hijri calendar and the month when verses of the Quran began being revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), is the period during which observant Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk and traditionally gather with family and friends to break their fast at sunset.
However, the sick, travelers, children, the elderly, nursing mothers and pregnant women are exempt from the religious obligation; and yet they can observe other lighter activities to extend their bond with God such as donating financial aid (Sadakah) to those in need, or engaging in meal preparation activities for other household members who refrain from eating and drinking.
The end of Ramadan is marked with a celebration of a three-day holiday called Ramadan Bayram, also known as Eid al-Fitr, which is set to be between April 21-23 this year.