Ramdan begins in twin districts

Ramdan begins in twin districts

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Aug 1, 2011 : The crescent moon was spotted on Sunday evening near Kasargod, marking the beginning of Ramdan, a month of fasting and sacrifice for Muslims worldwide. Accordingly, Qazis and religious scholars declared that the holy month will commence today, after which the Maghrib Namaz was held and the Thakbeer was pronounced in mosques all over the twin districts. 

The members of the Muslim community greeted each other and devout Muslims rushed to the mosque for their first Taraveeh. The women did last minute preparations for the first Ramadan shari or meals taken just before dawn.

 

Thwaka Ahmed Musliar, the qazi of Mangalore, and P. M. Ibrahim Musliyar Bekal, the qazi of Udupi, conveyed Ramdan greetings to Muslims all over the twin districts and urged them to pray and fast throughout the month. 

In Bhatkal, nobody sighted the moon; and Maulana Mohammed Iqbal Mulla Nadvi, the qazi of Bhatkal, said that they had just completed 28 days of Shaban, owing to which Ramdan might begin in Bhatkal on Tuesday. 

Ramdan, which is calculated on the basis of the sighting of the new moon, marking the beginning of the Islamic lunar month lasting for 29 – 30 days, begins 11 years earlier each year. 

Muslims are expected to refrain from taking food and drink, smoking, and having sex during the daylight hours of Ramdan. Instead, they are expected to pray, fast, and focus on spiritual matters.