GALLERY: The month of Ramadan
Muslims began celebrating the Islamic holy month of Ramadan on Sunday.
The month-long fasting involves Muslims abstaining from food and drinks from sunrise till sunset everyday. The fast is deemed to remind people of values such as discipline, self-restraint and generosity while following God's commandments. It is also for Muslims to cleanse themselves spiritually and to understand the sufferings of those less fortunate.
Fasting is one of the five pillars of the religion of Islam and one of the highest forms of Islamic worship.
Muslims stand after having their Iftar (evening breaking fast) meal on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan in India, at the Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque) in the old quarters of Delhi June 30, 2014. Photo: Reuters
A man reads the Koran in a mosque on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Surabaya, East Java, June 29, 2014. Photo: Reuters
Students at an Islamic boarding school perform prayers at a mosque on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Medan, North Sumatra June 29, 2014. Photo: Reuters
A Malaysian religious student holds the Koran at school during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in Hulu Langat, near Kuala Lumpur on June 30, 2014. Photo: AFP
Indian Muslims read the Koran at a madrassa during the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan in Mumbai on June 30, 2014. Photo: AFP
A Muslim boy looks at a large Koran inside a mosque while waiting to break fast on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan in Makassar, South Sulawesi Province June 30, 2014. Photo: Reuters
A boy helps to distribute food for devotees to break fast on the first day of Ramadan at a mosque in Singapore June 29, 2014. Photo: Reuters
Muslim women discuss the Koran while waiting to break their fast on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta June 29, 2014. Photo: Reuters
A woman eats a piece of bread after breaking fast with other devotees on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Niujie Mosque in Beijing June 29, 2014. Photo: Reuters
A Pakistani Muslim man arranges Iftar food for Muslim devotees before they break their fast during the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Karachi on June 30, 2014. Photo AFP
A man distributes Iftar food to Pakistani Muslim devotees waiting to break their fast during the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Lahore on June 30, 2014. Photo: AFP
Pakistani Muslim devotees wait to break their fast during the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Islamabad on June 30, 2014. Photo: AFP
Muslims stand next to an eatery stall after their Iftar (evening breaking fast) meal on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan in India, in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad June 30, 2014. Photo: Reuters
Indian Muslims break their fast at a market on the first day of Ramadan in Allahabad on June 30, 2014. Photo: AFP
Sources: Reuters, AFP
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