The holy month of Ramadan - photo. Holy month of Ramadan (photo) Beautiful pictures for the month of Ramadan Russian

08.07.2020 Esoterics

On August 1, Muslims around the world began holy month of Ramadan - the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar. A small informative report about this interesting Muslim holiday.

Muslims must fast during the month of Ramadan. Iftar - breaking the fast, evening meal during Ramadan. Begins immediately after sunset and before the evening prayer. Every evening of the month of Ramadan is a real holiday. For breaking the fast, you can put on the table and fruits, pastries, dried fruits, etc., a mosque in the city of Karachi, August 2, 2011. (Photo by Shakil Adil | AP):

According to the Qur'an, doing good deeds is considered especially important.

Mosque in Moscow. Muslims attend evening prayer, August 1, 2011. (Photo by Denis Sinyakov | Reuters):

In Ramadan, devout Muslims try to spend more time in prayer and reading the Koran, giving alms, and doing other good deeds. Srinagar, 2 August 2011. (Photo by Tauseef Mustafa | AFP):

The beginning of each month of the Islamic lunar calendar is considered the day after the new moon. The lunar calendar is shorter than the Gregorian calendar by about 11 days, so every year the start date of Ramadan is shifted by about 11 days back relative to the modern calendar.

It should also be borne in mind that in some Muslim countries the first day of Ramadan is determined by astronomical calculations, and in others - by direct observation of the moon, or it can be determined based on the announcement of authoritative people in the Muslim world. Concerning, the start of a religious holiday may differ depending on the host country or weather conditions.

In a shopping center in the city of Surabay, Indonesia, a miniature replica of an 8x8 meter mosque made of waffles was made on August 2, 2011. It took 21,000 waffles and 3 days of work to create it. (Photo by Juni Kriswanto | AFP):

Consistent with one of the five pillars of Islam during the month of Ramadan, it is prohibited:

Eating food and fluids during the day.
Sexual intercourse, kissing, touching a person of the opposite sex.
Accidental swallowing of water while bathing.

A sales outlet selling hats worn by worshipers in Karachi, Pakistan, August 1, 2011. (Photo by Shakil Adil | AP):

Who said it should be boring? Fireworks to mark the start of the holy month of Ramadan, southern Gaza, July 31, 2011. (Photo by Said Kharib | AFP):

This owner installs light illuminations outside his home ahead of Ramadan, Old Jerusalem July 31, 2011. (Photo by Ammar Awad | Reuters):

For a missed fast for a good reason, a believer must fast on any convenient day until the next month of Ramadan. It is especially noted that those who are not able to observe it are exempted from fasting: the elderly or Muslims with chronic diseases. But then the Muslim must feed the needy or help the needy for every day of fasting.

In accordance with one of the five pillars of Islam, during the month of Ramadan, devout Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk, after which the Iftar, the evening meal, begins. Sweets production in a Kabul store, August 2, 2011. (Photo by Shah Marai | AFP):

People reading the Quran can be found in any place. This man is settled on the sidewalk and is not disturbed by the rain, Lahore, Pakistan. August 2, 2011. (Photo by Mohsin Raza | Reuters):

A Palestinian boy reads the Koran at the Mosque in Gaza City, August 2, 2011. (Photo by Hatem Moussa | AP):

A father and son wash at a fountain on the grounds of a mosque before the start of prayer, Srinagar, India August 2, 2011. (Photo by Altaf Qadri | AP):

Believers at Jama Masjid - the main mosque of Old Delhi in India, August 2, 2011. The original name is "the mosque commanding the show of the world." The inner courtyard of the mosque can accommodate up to twenty-five thousand believers simultaneously. One of the relics is a copy of the Koran written on the skin of a deer. (Photo by Tauseef Mustafa | AFP):

Day 1 of the holy month of Ramadan at an Islamic boarding school in Solo, Indonesia, Central Java, August 1, 2011. (Photo by Beawiharta | Reuters):

And again reading the Koran. A soldier in Sana'a, the capital, 2 August 2011. (Photo by Jumana El Heloueh | Reuters):

Dancing Before Evening Meal - Iftar, Istanbul, 1 August 2011. (Photo by Murad Sezer | Reuters):

Sunset in Amman, Jordan on the eve of Ramadan, July 31, 2011. (Photo by Mohammad Hannon | AP):

Narawih prayer. This is a night prayer that is read only in the holy month of Ramadan, Children play in the background carefree, Jakarta July 31, 2011. (Photo (Supri | Reuters):

The month of Ramadan ends with fasting with the second most important Muslim holiday, Eid ul-fitr (Ramadan Bayram), which begins at sunset on the last day of Ramadan.

Nepal, 2 August 2011. Official figures say only 4.3% of the country's 27 million population are Muslim. (Photo by Niranjan Shrestha | AP):

Two weeks ago, The Boston Globe asked its readers to send them their pictures of Ramadan celebrations around the world. As a result, the editorial office received about 250 high-quality and individual images. On the occasion - the end of Ramadan - the best photos in the opinion of the editorial staff of the resource were published. We invite you to take a look at the pictures taken by amateur photographers from around the world. The signatures were left by photographers.

(41 photos total)

1. An elderly couple reads the Quran together near Orlando, Florida on September 5. Prayers and reading of the Quran are especially important during the last 10 days of Ramadan. (© Sammy Abusrur)

2. The younger brother of the photographer Kurrat Ansari says a salad - an obligatory prayer - at a house in Toronto, Ontario. (© Qurrat Ansari)

3. The Ramadan Cannon Shot is an ancient Egyptian tradition when the last day of fasting is announced. Photo taken on August 15 in El Mahalla El Kubra, Egypt. (© Mohamed Hossam Eldin)

4. August 11 is the first day of Ramadan for Muslims in North America. Iftar dinner is served at the table, where a Canadian-Moroccan family is going to break the fast with traditional dishes. The modern Muslim diaspora relies on new technologies to maintain Islamic traditions. (© Chamsi Dib)

5. A boy smiles at a photographer during evening prayers at the Al Amin Mosque in Beirut. (© Philipp Breu)

6. A Turkish Muslim man prays at a new mosque in central Istanbul on August 12. (© Pierre Marsaut)

7. Food vendors at the Bendungan Hillir market in Jakarta. Usually people buy different cakes and drinks with which they will break their fast. This seasonal market opens only once a year - during Ramadan. (© Pitra Satvika)

8. Bucket with "aloo ki subji" (curry made from potatoes and various spices), which will be served with iftar along with "kachori" (fried flat cakes made from white flour, ghee and water, stuffed with vegetables or beans). Green chili peppers float on the surface, the dish is poured with a ladle (hanging on the bucket on the right). Photo taken in Old Delhi, India on September 4th. (© Priyanka Sachar)

9. Sheikh Hasan al-Karbalay (center) conducts prayer at the Ahlul Bayt Mosque in Brooklyn, New York, August 19. (© Daniel Peyser)

10. Morning prayer at Cocoa Beach, Florida. (© Muhammad Saif / Ahmad Deeb)

11. Workers prepare the traditional dodol betawi cake in the village of Kalibata, Jakarta, September 2. As Eid al-Adha approached, the demand for dodol increased sixfold, however, so did the price - from 60 to 100 rupees apiece. (© Afriadi Hikmal)

12. A traditional Arabic style mannequin stands on a tray with prayer caps in Bangalore, India, September 4. (© Abubaker)

13. A respected man reads the Quran before breakfast in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 25 August. (© Dhafer Alshehri)

14. The name of the Lord in the rays of the sun before the beginning of Ramadan in Manassas, Virginia. (© Hasan Kazmi)

15. Girls prepare to break the fast at the Islamic Center in Wayland, Massachusetts, September 4. (© Zeenat Rasheed)

16. Every year in Ramadan, especially closer to its end, the largest market opens in Kuala Lumpur, which occupies the entire Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman lane. It's always crowded here. The photo was taken from the roof of the parking lot of a nearby complex. (© Mohd Shazni Zainal)

17. Sheikh teaches children the Qur'an while an elderly man listens and thinks about something in Shubra, Cairo, Egypt. (© Khaled Zohny)

18. Muslims in the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. (© Ahmed Ismail)

20. Photographer Amna Rehmatullah: “When I think about Ramadan, dates come to my mind. Although they are small, just one can satisfy your hunger. They have a rich taste, and their sweetness for such a small fruit is amazing. Traditionally, break the fast with dates and water. When I hear the evening prayer, I feel like eating a date. Tasting this sweet fruit, I thank Allah for the opportunity to satisfy my hunger. The food tastes better when you know you deserve it. " (© Amna Rehmatulla)

22. Ramadan encourages American Muslims to do charity by donating to schools and kindergartens in New York. (© Omar Ranginwala / Islamic Circle of North America)

23. A homeless man tries to sleep under a bridge in Jakarta. Others will undoubtedly join him soon, as the homeless and beggars flock to Ramadan in the capital of Indonesia in the hope of human compassion. (© Afriadi Hikmal)

24. Muslim women pray in the evening at a local festival in Jakarta on August 28. (© Nugroho Budianggoro)

25. Lamb, prepared for iftar, in a Chechen family of students living in Malaysia, September 5. (© Alieva Iman)

26. Nadine Abu-Jubara and Shahma Palliagat blow bubbles and discuss the mystery of names at the annual fast-a-tone event hosted by the Muslim Student Council in Orlando, Florida, September 1. This year, the student council raised funds to help the victims of the Pakistani flood. (© Raqeebah Zaman)

27. A man raises his hands in supplication before fasting in Pomona, California. (© Leena Butt)

28. A Muslim woman during Friday prayers at a mosque in Istanbul on August 21. (© Boryana Katsarova)

29. Believers are visible through a wooden partition separating Muslim women from men during Friday prayers in a mosque in Istanbul. (© Pierre Marsaut)

30. A Canadian Muslim woman prays while standing outside Tim Hortons in Toronto September 6. More than 500,000 Muslims call Canada home. These Muslims try to combine Canadian and Islamic principles every day. (© Yasin Dusoruth)

32. A man rests after an afternoon prayer at a mosque in Jakarta on September 5. (© Rizal Adi Dharma)

Interesting photos with description

September 16, 2008. Pakistan, Islamabad. King Faisal Mosque. © AP Photo / Wally Santana

August 31, 2008. Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan. An Islamic authority looks through a telescope trying to determine the new moon. Muslims scan the evening sky at the end of the eighth month of the Muslim lunar calendar in search of a new moon to announce the start of Ramadan. © REUTERS / Ahim Rani

September 11, 2008. West Bank of the Jordan River, Jenin city. A Palestinian reads the Koran during the fast of the holy month of Ramadan. © AP Photo / Mohammed Ballas

September 12, 2008. Indonesia, Jakarta. Inonesian men pray at Istikal, the largest mosque in southwestern Asia. © AP Photo / Irwin Fedriansyah

September 13, 2008. Jordan, Amman. Jordanian children waiting for Iftar. Iftar is a free food distribution on Saturdays during Ramadan. It is held after 18:00 (and further depending on sunset) local time. © AP Photo / Nader Daoud

September 12, 2008. Israel, Jerusalem. A Palestinian woman at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. © AP Photo / Bernat Armangue

September 12, 2008. West Bank of the Jordan River, Ramallah. Palestinian women pass through Qalandiya checkpoint to attend Friday prayers at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque. © DAVID FURST / AFP / Getty Images

September 12, 2008. West Bank of the Jordan River, Ramallah. The Israeli military restrains the Palestinians at the Qalandia checkpoint. © AP Photo / Bernat Armangue

September 12, 2008. West Bank of the Jordan River, Bethlehem. Palestinian women walk past men (on the other side of the fence) who are waiting at a checkpoint to enter Israel for Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. © AP Photo / Tara Todras-Whitehill

September 5, 2008. Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur. In the picture, a man fries chicken wings to break the fast, which will be quickly sold out in the evening after sunset. The global food crisis and high food prices in poor Muslim countries are cutting the once-lavish evening diet of believers. © KAMARUL AKHIR / AFP / Getty Images

September 5, 2008. India, Kashmir. Muslims of Kashmir pray at the Jami Masjit mosque. © AP Photo / Dar Yasin

September 3, 2008. Pakistan, Lahore. A Pakistani prepares sweet drinks for an evening break. © Arif Ali / AFP / Getty Images

September 2, 2008. West Bank of the Jordan River, Ramallah. A Palestinian boy lights homemade fireworks after breaking the fast at the end of the second day of Ramadan. © AP Photo / Muhammed Muheisen

September 2, 2008. Damascus. The sweet seller calls on the buyers. Candy sales rise during Ramadan. © REUTERS / Khaled al-Hariri

September 2, 2008. Indonesia, Jakarta. A Muslim woman reads the Koran in the Istikal mosque. © ADEK BERRY / AFP / Getty Images

August 31, 2008. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kladange. Bosnian Muslim girls wash themselves with water in a cave. Local tradition claims that water and prayer in the cave will bring success throughout the year. This year more than 30,000 people came together to pray inside and outside the cave. © AP Photo / Amel Emric

September 15, 2008. Bangladesh, Dhaka. A Bangladeshi vendor offers traditional sweetmeats for a quick break of the fast. © AP Photo / Pavel Rahman

August 28, 2008. Egypt, Cairo. Egyptian family chooses Fanous in the market. Fanus is a bizarrely shaped multi-colored lantern that the inhabitants of Cairo have been lighting for the tenth century in honor of the onset of the holy month of Ramadan. (c) KHALED DESOUKI / AFP / Getty Images

September 17, 2008. West Bank of the Jordan River, Ramallah. A Palestinian Muslim girl prays at the men's mosque before evening prayer. © AP Photo / Muhammed Muheisen

September 5, 2008. Pakistan, Peshawar. A Pakistani man watches Friday prayers on the roof of a mosque. © AP Photo / Mohammad Sajjad

September 5, 2008. India, Hyderabad. According to tradition, a man's eyes are painted with a special pencil before prayer. © REUTERS / Krishnendu Halder

September 14, 2008. USA, Duxbury. The Al-Zaim family breaks their fast at 7 pm. © Justine Hunt / Globe Staff Photo

September 18, 2008. Bangladesh, Dhaka. Women at the factory sew special hats for worshipers. These hats are in high demand during Ramadan in Banglaadash. © REUTERS / Andrew Biraj

September 5, 2008. India, Kashmir. Muslims offer prayers at the Jami Masjit mosque. © AP Photo / Dar Yasin

September 2, 2008. Pakistan, Karachi. A boy prepares food for Iftar (free food distribution) at the Memon mosque. © REUTERS / Athar Hussain

September 3, 2008. Lebanon, Sidon. Muhammad Phanas awakens Muslims for suhoor. Suhoor is a meal before dawn with the intention of fasting the day ahead. © MAHMOUD ZAYAT / AFP / Getty Images

September 7, 2008. West Bank of the Jordan River. Ramallah. Visually impaired Palestinian students read the Quran in Braille. © AP Photo / Muhammed Muheisen

September 5, 2008. India, Hyderabad. Workers are drying vermicelli specially prepared for breaking fast. © REUTERS / Krishnendu Halder

September 11, 2008. India, Kashmir. The picture shows a man resting after prayer. © REUTERS / Fayaz Kabli

September 9, 2008. Thailand. Thai Muslim children pray in the mosque. © MADAREE TOHLALA / AFP / Getty Images

September 8, 2008. Afghanistan, Kabul. Afghan men offer prayers on a hilltop near Kabul. © SHAH MARAI / AFP / Getty Images

September 6, 2008. Iran, Tehran. The seller places sweets on the counter for breaking the fast. © REUTERS / Morteza Nikoubazl

August 31, 2008. Indonesia, Surabaya. Women pray on the eve of the first day of the holy month of Ramadan. © REUTERS / Sigit Pamungkas

September 13, 2008. Pakistan, Islamabad. A Pakistani loader stacks bananas, which are stored in large quantities in the warehouse for an evening fast during Ramadan. © FAROOQ NAEEM / AFP / Getty Images

September 1, 2008. Indonesia, Makassar. A boy fell asleep on the floor in a mosque while waiting for the break to break the fast on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan. © REUTERS / Yusuf Ahmad

Ramadan 2019 is coming soon, God willing! All months have special virtues and each of them is dear to Muslims in its own way, but only one of the twelve is the most highly revered - this is Ramadan (or Ramadan).

It is not for nothing that he bears the honorary title of Sultan for all other months, because he alone was named in the Holy Quran.

There are two versions of the origin of the word "Ramadan":

"Ramza" is a light rain that washes away dirt and refreshes the earth, purifying it. Fasting in the same way cleanses a Muslim from all his sins.
"Ramad" - stones red-hot in the sun. Walking on hot ones is painful and difficult, just as it is difficult to withstand hunger and thirst during fasting, but if the will of the Almighty, relief will come after the hardships, and all the sins of the fasting person will be forgiven.

The virtues of Ramadan

It is possible to enumerate for a long time all the virtues that Allah Almighty endowed this month, remember only some of them - the most important.

Only Ramadan is honored to be mentioned in the Holy Qur'an.
The ayats of Kur'an were first revealed at that time.
Fasting - one of the pillars of religion - is also performed during these 29 to 30 days.
It is on these days that the night falls, which is better than a thousand other nights - Lailatul Kadr.
Zakatul - fitr is paid immediately after the end of Ramadan, but is a prerequisite for accepting the fast.
A special service is the additional taraweeh prayer performed at night. The Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) said: "If anyone performs the night prayer in the month of Ramadan with firm faith and hoping to be rewarded, his former sins will be forgiven" (narrated from the words of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him).
Y'tikaf is another important feature. 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) until the end of his life, until he died by the will of Allah, retired in the last ten days of the month of Ramadan. After him, his wives retired. "
With the onset of the Holy Month, the doors of Paradise open and none of them will be closed until the end of Ramadan. The doors of Hell, on the contrary, are locked on the first day of the month and until the end of Ramadan, none of them will be open.
Every day of Ramadan, at the command of the Most High, the angels decorate Paradise.
On the last night of Ramadan, Allah, according to His will, grants forgiveness of all sins to His righteous slaves.

Good deeds in the month of Ramadan

Ibn ‘Abbas (may the Almighty be pleased with him) narrated:" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of the Almighty be upon him) was the most generous of the people, and he showed the greatest generosity in Ramadan. " According to ‘Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), it is also narrated:“ When the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) was asked: “What sadaqa is better?” He replied: “Sadaqa donated in Ramadan”.

Praznik Ramadan 2019

It follows from this that on Ramadan every wealthy Muslim should be given alms commensurate with his financial capabilities. Do not forget that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of God be upon him) said:

"Anyone who spends money on his family and seeks blessings, he will be written this as sadaqa."

That is, if we talk about charity, then first you should help your family and relatives, then orphans, then poor Muslims, and only after - the rest of the categories of people.

Another important good deed is the feeding of the fasting person. Allah, by His grace, gives us the same reward for feeding those who are fasting as those who are fasting. The Almighty forgives our sins and on the Day of Judgment, inshaAllah, will protect us from the Hellfire. And no matter how satisfying the iftar was, the reward will be great, even if you managed to give the fasting person only one date or a sip of water for the iftar.

On Ramadan, you need to try to complete Khatm Kur'an - that is, read the Holy Book from beginning to end, in this case, on the Day of Judgment, the Prophet Muhammad himself (peace and blessings be upon him) will intercede for us, if the will of the Most High.

In addition, as already mentioned, it is on Ramadan that we receive the greatest benefit from reciting an additional night prayer - taraweeh.

At the end of the month, it is imperative to pay zyakatul-fitr, the amount of which is usually adjusted annually by the Spiritual Administration of Muslims. It is necessary to pay fitr not only for adult Muslims, but also for children. A woman can, at will, pay fitr for herself from her own savings.

Preparation for Ramadan 2019

It is very important not only to wait for the coming of the Holy Month, but also to prepare for it. Fasting in Sha'ban more, reducing expenses in order to be able to give as much alms as possible, to monitor our behavior, because fasting is not a feeling of hunger and thirst, it is humility, patience and gratitude for the fact that we have something to break the fast.

There are people who get nothing from their post except a feeling of hunger, and perhaps they are just one of those who, observing the fast, get angry, quarrel with their relatives, discuss acquaintances, gossip and envy. Ramadan is a month of patience and how beautiful our patience will be will affect whether our fast is accepted - remember this!

It is also worth preparing small gifts in advance for relatives, loved ones, friends and neighbors - even if they are not Muslims - so you will show the beauty and kindness of religion and perhaps they will think about it and someday will accept Islam.

Ramadan holiday 2019, Ramadan

Set a goal in advance for a month - to devote time every day not only to home and work, but also to gain new knowledge. For example, set a goal for yourself to learn a surah of 30 verses - one verse on each day of Ramadan. Or learn the names of the Most High - three for each day. Or any other goal that will bring you closer to the contentment of Allah, if it is His will.

Be sure to plan at least one trip to iftar at the mosque - the atmosphere in the jamaat is completely different and iman grows and strengthens many times over, besides, there will be an opportunity to perform taraweeh namaz by jamaat after iftar, and this is an even greater blessing.

Try to plan in advance iftar for friends and family at home, because whoever feeds the fasting receives an equal reward.

Do not forget about children - be sure to tell them about the deep meaning of fasting, come up with interesting tasks related to Islam, give small surprises on a Muslim topic, and encourage them to fast for at least a few hours a day.

Reward from the Almighty in Ramadan

Fard this month is fasting and Sunnah is taraweeh prayer every night. And for any observance of fard actions, Allah will reward us with sauab, like for 70 fard on other days, and for sunnah, sauab will be the same as in normal time for fard, if it is the will of the Almighty.

The first ten days of Ramadan are the mercy of the Most High, the second ten days are His forgiveness, and the last ten days are liberation from the Hellfire. For those who facilitate the lot of other people in Ramadan, the Almighty grants forgiveness from all sins.

Video: "What happens to the body during fasting in Ramadan"

It is in Ramadan that you can atone for your sins and receive the greatest reward for your patience.

The upper part of the Faisal Mosque, made in the shape of a crescent moon, is the national mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is one of the largest in the world, known in Islam for its size. Its area is 5 thousand square meters and can accommodate 300 thousand believers.
(cm. )

An Islamic authority in Brunei looks through a telescope on August 31, 2008. Brunei is a state in Southeast Asia, located on the northwestern coast of the island of Borneo. It is washed by the South China Sea and borders Malaysia. Muslims explore the sky at sunset at the end of the eighth month of the lunar calendar in search of a new moon to herald the beginning of Ramadan.

A Palestinian boy holds a homemade sparkler in the West Bank city of Ramallah on September 2, 2008.

A Palestinian reads from the Koran during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at a mosque in the West Bank city of Jenin September 11, 2008. The Koran is the holy book of Muslims professing Islam. The word "Koran" translated from Arabic means "reading aloud." It is a collection of sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, made by him on behalf of Allah.

Indonesian men attend Friday prayers at the Istiklal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia on September 12, 2008.
The Istiklal Mosque is the largest in Southeast Asia, built to commemorate Indonesian independence and to thank the people for the mercy of God.

A traditional Syrian sweets seller convenes customers in Meydan, Damascus on September 2, 2008. Confectionery products are sold both by weight and in packages with a colorful label, which contains not only the name of the product, but also its description, composition, shelf life and information about the manufacturer.

Jordanian Muslim children wait for Iftar in Amman, Jordan, September 13, 2008.
Iftar is an evening meal during the month of Ramadan. Held after the prayer of Al-Maghrib local time. Dates and water are consumed during Iftar. The Prophet Muhammad said: "When one of you breaks his fast, let him break his fast with dates, and if he does not find dates, let him break his fast with water, for it truly cleans."

A Palestinian woman prays for the holy month of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem on September 12, 2008, which is located on the Temple Mount of Jerusalem. In this mosque, up to 5 thousand believers can pray at the same time.

Palestinian women walk with their children through the Qalandiya checkpoint, on the outskirts of the city on the West Bank of Ramallah. They go to Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque on September 19, 2008. Thousands of Muslim believers cross the checkpoint every week to enter Al-Aqsa, the third most important Islamic shrine.

Israeli border guards hold back Palestinians who want to pass through the Qalandiya checkpoint to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem, September 12, 2008.

Palestinian women walk past men on the other side of a fence awaiting permission to cross a checkpoint to enter Israel and pray for the holy month of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem, West Bank city of Bethlehem September 12, 2008 of the year.

This photo was taken on September 5, 2008. It shows a worker preparing fried chicken wings for sale at a bazaar in downtown Kuala Lumpur.

Kashmiri Muslims pray at the Jami Mosque in Srinagar, India on September 5, 2008.

A Pakistani man prepares sweet drinks for people (in violation of the Ramadan fast) at a mosque during the Muslim month of Ramadan in Lahore on September 3, 2008.

A Muslim woman reads a copy of the Quran at the Istiklal Mosque on the second day of Ramadan in Jakarta, Indonesia (the most Muslim-populated country in the world) on September 2, 2008.

Bosnian Muslim girls wash their faces with water from a cave near the Bosnian town of Kladanj, 50 km north of Sarajevo, Bosnia, August 31, 2008. Traditionally, water and prayers in the cave will bring beauty and success for the whole year. More than 30 thousand people have gathered to pray inside and outside the cave this year.

A sale of traditional sweet meat and bread in violation of the fast at Chok Bazaar in Dhaka, Bangladesh, September 12, 2008.

An Egyptian family chooses Fanus Ramadan in a Cairo store in late August 2008. Fanus is a bizarrely shaped multi-colored lantern that the inhabitants of Egypt and some other Arab countries have been lighting in honor of the onset of the holy month of Ramadan since the time of the Fatimids. Egyptian craftsmen make lanterns from thin metal plates and multi-colored glass. The lanterns are adorned with intricate designs and excerpts from the Koran, applied to the glass in gold paint in calligraphic handwriting. A candle is inserted through a small hole into the lantern.

A Palestinian Muslim woman prays at a men's mosque before the evening Taraweeh prayer in Ramallah on September 17, 2008.
Taraweeh is a prayer that is performed after the obligatory night prayer (Isha) and lasts until dawn. This prayer is performed both individually and collectively.

A Pakistani man during Friday prayers atop the roof of a mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan, September 5, 2008.

A person receives traditional Kohl (antimony powder) eyeliner before Friday prayers during the Muslim month of Ramadan in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad on September 5, 2008.
It is believed that kohl makes eyes larger and protects them from disease. Kohl's black color helps fight the dazzling desert sun, which is why both women and men use this powder.

A family from Massachusetts, New England, dines at home (meat, bread, vegetables) after 7 pm on September 14, 2008.

Workers sew prayer hats at a factory in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh on September 18, 2008. Prayer caps are in great demand during Ramadan.

Kashmiri Muslims pray at the Jami Mosque on the first Friday of Ramadan in Srinagar, India on September 5, 2008.

A child prepares food for an iftar (evening meal) at the Memon Mosque in Karachi, Pakistan on September 2, 2008.

The Lebanese "musaharati" Mohammed lights Phanus before waking the Muslims for an evening meal. Fanus is a multi-colored lantern that the inhabitants of Egypt and some other Arab countries light up in honor of the onset of the holy month of Ramadan.

Version of the Koran for visually impaired people. Palestinian students read verses from the Koran, Islam's holy book, written in Braille, at Al Qabas. An Islamic school in the West Bank of Ramallah, September 7, 2008.

Workers dry vermicelli, which is then eaten during a Muslim fast in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, India, September 5, 2008.

An elderly man rests after prayer at the temple of the holy Sufi Mir Said Ali Hamdani in Srinagar, in the Indian part of Kashmir on September 11, 2008.