Islamabad, Pakistan (AFP): Moments before dawn, Noor ul Islam ascends the steps of one of the world’s biggest mosques, enters its cavernous hall and says a private prayer before a faintly buzzing microphone. The 32-year-old gulps down a deep breath and makes the morning’s call to worship — a forceful yet lilting chant amplifi...
ALGIERS, Algeria (AA) – The imam was there to lead prayers for the gathered faithful, but to an affectionate cat, he seemed the most attractive target to climb. A video clip of the kitty jumping onto a robed imam as he led Tarawih, a featured prayer during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, went viral […]
LONDON (AA) – Hundreds gathered on Friday at the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London as part of an open ‘iftar’ — the feast for the opening of the fast in the evenings in the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. About 450 people gathered for the fast-breaking meal hosted by the Ramadan Tent Project, an […]
LONDON (AA) – English Premier League football club Aston Villa on Wednesday hosted its first-ever Open Iftar, a community event during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in the UK, at its home stadium Villa Park. Hundreds of people gathered at Villa Park in Birmingham as part of the event, which was held in collaboration […]
ANKARA (AA) – Muslim players in the French national football team were allegedly asked to postpone their fasting for a few days during Ramadan. French sports daily L’Equipe reported citing a source that the Muslim players were told to postpone their practice during the five days they spent in selection so that their performance wou...
BIRMINGHAM, England/LONDON (AA) – Scotland’s newly elected First Minister Humza Yousaf shared a photo Tuesday while leading his family in prayer on his first night at the official residence, Bute House. “A special moment leading my family in prayer in Bute House as is customary after breaking fast together,” he said on Twitte...
Om Eshr, Sudan (AFP): As generations of Sudanese have done before her, Wissal Abdel Ghany crouched next to a fire to prepare a traditional drink, a thirst-quenching favourite enjoyed during the fasting month of Ramadan. In Sudan, the arduously made “helo-murr”, which means “bittersweet”, is a drink synonymous with the I...
Tripoli, Libya (AFP): The blast of a cannon booms across Tripoli, but it doesn’t signal another round of fighting in the Libyan capital — rather, the revival of a long-lost Ramadan tradition. Officers in berets rolled out a red carpet on the iconic Martyrs’ Square on March 23 for the 600-year-old weapon, setting off a [&helli...
WASHINGTON (AA) – US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden on Wednesday marked the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, wishing Muslims worldwide “Ramadan Kareem.” “Today, Jill and I extend our best wishes to Muslim communities across the country and around the world as they begin the Islamic holy month of [&...
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (AFP): Saudi Arabia, home of the holiest shrines in Islam, has announced that the fasting month of Ramadan will start on Thursday. The kingdom’s supreme court ruled on Tuesday evening that the Islamic calendar month of Shaban, which precedes Ramadan, ends on Wednesday, meaning Ramadan will begin the following day, th...
