More than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world will mark starting today the Islam’s holy month of Ramadan with Muslims in the Philippines joining their brethren in the obligatory religious duty of abstinence | Manila Bulletin

By Edd K. Usman, Manila Bulletin

More than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world will mark starting today the Islam’s holy month of Ramadan with Muslims in the Philippines joining their brethren in the obligatory religious duty of abstinence.

Ramadan is the period when adult Muslims annually abstain from food, drinks, cigarettes, and marital relations starting from sunrise to sunset. They also try to avoid evil thoughts and deeds.

President Aquino assured local Muslims of the country’s solidarity with them.

“Our country is with you in spirit as you observe this time of deep reflection. May we continue to exhibit excellence, integrity, and accountability in our deeds, and achieve greater milestones in nation-building,” Aquino said.

He also expressed hope that local Muslims would be Allah’s instruments of peace and unity as the Filipino nation gathers on its shared journey towards a more prosperous and equitable nation.

The President noted the Islamic month’s significance “as among the holiest of seasons” that symbolizes time when Allah (God in Arabic) revealed the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Allaihi Wassalam.

Aquino said the fasting and prayer highlighting the Muslims’ recollections of the events of revelation serve to enrich their oneness with Allah.

“It is a time for you to embody the teachings of the Holy Qur’an as you practice greater discipline, compassion, and restraint,” he said.

Across the world, the year 2015 marks a simultaneous start of Ramadan, among them Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC) member states, Turkey, Muslims in the United States, Malaysia and in other countries. Elsewhere in the Gulf, Bahrain and Qatar also announced a Thursday start for Ramadan. The government of Yemen, exiled in Saudi Arabia because of war in their homeland, similarly said the holy month would begin Thursday in their country. And in Amman, Jordanian religious authorities said Ramadan would begin there on Thursday.

But there were others which searched for the Ramadan crescent on Wednesday, including Oman, an AGCC member, Bangladesh, Iran, India, Morocco, and many African countries, compared to others which did it on Tuesday, June 16.

Ramadan is sacred to Muslims because tradition says the Koran was revealed to their prophet Mohammed during that month. It is followed by the Eid al-Fitr festival.