03/22/2023 22:29 (act. 03/22/2023 22:30)
For devout Muslims, the fasting month of Ramadan begins on Thursday. The date depends on the appearance of the new crescent moon and therefore may vary slightly from country to country. During Ramadan, devout Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex for a month, from dawn to dusk. In the evening, people traditionally meet to break the fast together. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam.
It is estimated that there are around 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, Thursday will be the first day of fasting.