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News ID: 137455
Publish Date : 01 March 2025 - 22:20
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Two Billion Muslims Welcome Month of Mercy

TEHRAN -- About 1.9 billion Muslims across the world have begun fasting for the holy month of Ramadan.
Saudi Arabia and most other Middle Eastern states welcomed the start of Ramadan late on Friday after the crescent moon was sighted in the kingdom, which is home to Islam’s two holiest sites.
Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Sudan and Tunisia announced they too would begin the daytime fast on Saturday as well as in the Palestinian territory of war-torn Gaza and the occupied West Bank. 
The office of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and Iraq’s top cleric, Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali al-Sistani, declared Sunday as the first day of Ramadan.
Morocco will also start observing the daytime fast from Sunday, its Ministry of Islamic Affairs announced.
In Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and India, the moon sighting would take place on Saturday evening with fasting expected to follow on Sunday.
Indonesia has the largest Muslim population, approximately 240 million, followed by Pakistan (225 million), India (211 million), Bangladesh (155 million), and Nigeria (111 million).
Observing the Ramadan fast is one of the aspects of Islam, requiring believers to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours. Observant Muslims are also encouraged to donate to the poor.
Hamas called on Palestinians on Saturday to travel to Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Al-Quds and engage in worship, steadfastness, and seclusion during the holy month of Ramadan.
In a statement, the movement urged Palestinians across the West Bank, Al-Quds, and within the Israeli occupied territories to “mobilize all efforts this month by traveling to Al-Aqsa Mosque, remaining steadfast, and engaging in seclusion there.”
“Let the blessed days and nights of Ramadan be dedicated to worship, steadfastness, and resistance against the enemy and settler mobs, as well as to the defense of Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa until they are

 
liberated from occupation,” Hamas said.
Hamas also called on Palestinians worldwide to launch “the broadest initiatives and solidarity events in support of their brethren in Gaza, the West Bank, and Al-Quds.”
On Friday evening, Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the preacher of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, stated that Israeli authorities had imposed a strict security lockdown on Al-Quds under the pretext of security concerns, though he asserted the true objective was to restrict Palestinian access to the mosque.
Each year during Ramadan, Israel enforces measures that limit Palestinians’ ability to reach Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied East Al-Quds.
Palestinians view these restrictions as part of a broader Israeli policy to Judaize East Al-Quds, including Al-Aqsa Mosque, and erase its Arab and Islamic identity.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world’s third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the Temple Mount, claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied East Al-Quds, where Al Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.
The International Court of Justice declared in July last year that Israel’s long-standing occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal, demanding the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East.

 

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