The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan starts Friday in most of the Arab world.
Ramadan will start in Algeria, Egypt, the Gulf Arab states except for Oman, in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, the Palestinian territories, Syria, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen.
In Oman and Morocco, at opposite ends of the Arab world, the holy month of fasting starts on Saturday as the new moon had not been sighted Thursday night in those countries.
The crescent moon marks the start of Muslim months in the Islamic calendar.
During Ramadan, a time for giving alms, observant Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, taking medicines and sex during daylight hours.
Muslims are also expected to control their temper, show tolerance, patience and sympathy with their poor fellow Muslims. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam.
In mainly Siite Muslim Iran, Ramadan is set to start on Saturday, although a senior conservative cleric, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, has called on the faithful to start fasting from Friday, according to AFP – Albawaba.com
