Across a wide belt that stretches halfway around the globe, the world's estimated 1.6 billion Muslims mark the beginning of Ramadhan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar where Muslims abstain from food, drink and other pleasures from sunrise to sunset.
Preparations are in progress for the upcoming Ramadan at the 17th century Badshahi mosque in Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, June 17, 2015.
Pakistanis clean walls of Sunehri mosque as preparations for the upcoming Ramadan in Peshawar, Pakistan, Wednesday, June 17, 2015.
Pakistanis clean a carpet in Sunehri mosque as preparations for the upcoming Ramadan in Peshawar, Pakistan, Wednesday, June 17, 2015.
Youths clean the dome of a mosque ahead of Ramadan in Jakarta, Indonesia on June 15, 2015.
A Palestinian vendor displays traditional lanterns known in Arabic as 'Fanous' sold during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at a market in Gaza City, on June 17, 2015, as the faithful prepare to start fasting.
A Palestinian man hangs decorations for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan outside his home in Jerusalem’s Old City on June 16, 2015.
In this Tuesday, June 16, 2015 photo, a father holds his girls as one of them looks into a telescope during a moon sighting event on top of Jebel Hafeet mountain ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. The sighting of the new moon marks the beginning of Ramadan.
In this Tuesday June 16, 2015 photo, a boy looks into a telescope during a moon sighting event on top of Jebel Hafeet mountain ahead of the holy month of Ramadan in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
A boy stands on a pier searching the sky for the crescent moon that starts Ramadan, in the village of Karzakan, Bahrain
A man and his son look toward the sky to spot the crescent moon, on the eve of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Jama Masjid, or grand mosque, in the old quarters of Delhi, India, June 18, 2015.
Pakistani Muslims offer evening prayers during a moon sighting event for Ramadan in Karachi, Pakistan, Wednesday, June 17, 2015.
A man adjusts his compass to find the proper direction before installing a theodolite to look for the new moon that will mark the start of Ramadan in Karachi, Pakistan on June 17, 2015.
An officer of Malaysia's Islamic Authority uses a theodolite to perform "rukyah", the sighting of the new moon that signals the start of the holy month of Ramadan, in Kuala Lumpur
A woman uses a telescope with an SLR camera attached to spot the new moon to mark the beginning of Ramadan in Malang, Indonesia
A crescent moon is seen above a mosque on the second day of Ramadan in Beirut, Lebanon on June 19, 2015.
A Palestinian boy celebrates with fireworks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, as the faithful prepare for the start of the Muslim holy month, on June 17, 2015.
A Palestinian girl holds a traditional lantern known in Arabic as "Fanous" sold during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, as the faithful prepare for the start of the Muslim holy month, on June 17, 2015.
Indonesian Muslim children carry torches during a parade marking Ramadan in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, June 16, 2015.
A Palestinian boy celebrates with fireworks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip
A Palestinian man reads a copy of the Quran, Islam's holy book, in a mosque on the first day of Ramadan in Gaza City, on June 18, 2015.
A man sits in front of plates of food as Muslims prepare to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan on June 21, 2015, at Turki bin Abdulaziz grand mosque in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
Muslims break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan on June 21, 2015, at Turki bin Abdulaziz grand mosque in Riyadh.
Pakistani volunteers distribute drinks to people before breaking their fast during Ramadan in Karachi on June 20, 2015.
A Pakistani baker prepares sweet 'Jalebi' for Iftar during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Islamabad on June 19, 2015.
Pakistani Muslims pray before breaking their fast during the fasting month in Karachi on June 19, 2015.
Bangladeshi street vendors prepare Iftar for breaking their fast on the first day of the holy fasting month of Islam, at a traditional bazaar in the old part of Dhaka on July 19, 2015.
ndian Muslim boys offer prayers prior to breaking their fast on the first day of the Islamic holy month at Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad on June 19, 2015.
Muslims offer the first Friday prayers of the holy month of Ramadan inside a mosque in Allahabad, India.
Men and children attend an evening mass prayer session to mark the holy fasting month of Ramadan, along a road in Karachi, Pakistan, on Thursday.
Indonesia Muslims perform an evening prayer called 'tarawih' marking the first eve of the holy fasting month of Ramadan on a pedestrian bridge in Jakarta, Wednesday, June 17, 2015.
Muslims attend Friday prayers during the second day of Ramadan in the courtyard of a housing estate next to the small BBC community center and mosque in east London on Friday.
Pakistani Muslims attend Friday prayers during Ramadan in Badshahi mosque Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, June 19, 2015.
A young girl plays during an evening prayer called "tarawih" marking the first eve of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, June 17, 2015.
Indonesian Muslims offer an evening prayer called "tarawih" marking the first eve of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, June 17, 2015.
An Indian worker dries Seviiyan (thin vermicelli) which is used for the preparation of 'sheerkhorma', a traditional sweet dish prepared by the Muslim community during the holy month of Ramadan, at a food factory in Hyderabad on June 23, 2015.
Pakistani Muslims leave the Grand Faisal mosque after breaking fast and offering evening prayers during Ramadan in Islamabad, Pakistan, Monday, June 22, 2015.
A Malaysian Muslim man recites the Holy Quran, before the Zohar prayers at a mosque during Islam's holy month of Ramadan, in Putrajaya, Malaysia on Tuesday, June 23, 2015.
Iraqi women and children, most of them refugees, wait for free food being distributed for Iftar, the meal after fasting, at the Abdul Khader al-Kilani mosque in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, June 23, 2015.
Indian Muslim devotees offer Friday prayers at the Vasi Ullah mosque on the first Friday of Ramadan in Allahabad on June 19, 2015.
An Indian Muslim youth prepares food prior to breaking fast on the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan at Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad on June 19, 2015.
Indian Muslims offer prayers prior to breaking their fast on the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan at Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad on June 19, 2015.
A migrant reads the holy Coran on the rocky beach at the Franco-Italian border in Ventimiglia, Italy, during the holy month of Ramadan,Thursday, June 18, 2015.
Malaysian Muslim breaking their fast on the first day of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday, June 18, 2015.
Afghan boys read the Quran during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, June 19, 2015.
Muslim devotees ready to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan on June 19, 2015 in the Omani capital Muscat.
Muslim men leave after praying to mark the holy month of Ramadan at Jimeta Central Mosque in Yola, Adamawa state, in northeast Nigeria, on June 19, 2015.
A Pakistani volunteer arranges food to distribute among poor people for iftar, the first meal to break the fast, during Ramadan in Islamabad, Pakistan, Friday, June 19, 2015.
Afghan villagers hold out their plates for food donated by other villagers as they prepare to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, June 19, 2015.
A Pakistani vendor waits for customers to sell caps in Karachi, Pakistan, Wednesday, June 17, 2015.
A Pakistani Muslim reads the Quran ahead of Ramadan at the 17th century Badshahi mosque in Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, June 17, 2015.
A Pakistani baker fries vermicelli to customers in preparation for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Rawalpindi on June 17, 2015.
A man walks on June 17, 2015 in a room of the Grand Mosque in Paris, on the eve of the start of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.
Above, a man reads the Koran at the Grand Mosque in Sanaa, Yemen
Indian Muslims offer prayers on the first day of holy month of Ramadan at a mosque in Jammu, the winter capital of Kashmir, India
Muslims attend Friday prayers during the second day of Ramadan, in the courtyard of a housing estate in east London
A young Pakistani Muslim prays during congregational prayers on the first Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Lahore, Pakistan.
Palestinians who had been prevented from crossing into Jerusalem through the Kalandia checkpoint use a ladder to climb over the wall in al-Ram town
Indian Muslim boys pray in the compound of Jama Masjid on the first day of Ramadan in New Delhi, India
Women attend the first Ramadan prayers in a Mosque in Surabaya, eastern Java island
A migrant wrapped in a blanket reads the Koran as he prays at sunrise on the rocks of the seawall at the Saint Ludovic border crossing on the Mediterranean Sea between Ventimiglia, Italy and Menton, France
Migrants pray for the start of Ramadan as they wait to cross the French border from Italy in Ventimiglia, Italy
Rohingya Muslims migrants sleep using mosquito nets during the first day of the fasting month of Ramadhan, at a refugee camp in Bireun Bayeun, East Aceh, Aceh, Indonesia
Filipino Muslim children are taught by an Arabic teacher the proper way of praying on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, outside the Pink mosque in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town, southern Philippines
Muslims pray at the Sultanahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, in Istanbul, Turkey
A migrant prays on the rocky beach at the Franco-Italian border in Ventimiglia, Italy
Afghan children study the Koran during first day of the month of Ramadan at a mosque in Jalalabad
Indonesian Muslim women offer prayers during the month of Ramadan at the Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta on June 21, 2015.
A Palestinian boy reads the Quran in the Al-Omari mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Gaza City, June 20, 2015.
oung Syrian refugee children line up for food as Syrians break their fasting on June 20, 2015 in Akcakale, Turkey, during the holy month of Ramadan.
A man feeds pigeons in the Zitouna mosque during the month of Ramadan in Tunis, Tunisia, on June 20, 2015.
An internally displaced Afghan family breaks their fast during the holy month of Ramadan in Kabul, Afghanistan, on June 20, 2015.
Palestinian worshippers pray in front of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem during the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.
Somali internally displaced people (IDP) receive food aid donated by a Qatari charity during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan in Mogadishu, Somalia on June 20, 2015.
Muslim children eat their iftar (breaking of fast) meal during the holy month of Ramadan at the Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque) in the old quarters of Delhi, India, on June 20, 2015
A Congolese Muslim waits for dusk to break the fast on the second day of Ramadan, in the mosque of Zongo on June 19, 2015. About 1500 Central African Republic (CAR) refugees live in this congolese city of Zongo, located near Bangui, after fleeing brutal inter-religious violence in 2013-2014.
Muslims pray on the first day of Ramadan at a mosque in Taunggyi capital city of Shan State, Myanmar on June 19, 2015.
Pakistani Muslim devotees receive a sweet drink to break their fast during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Lahore on June 19, 2015.
Thai Muslim women pray in a mosque in the southern province of Pattani, Thailand, during the holy month of Ramadan, June 19, 2015.
A man prays before Ramadan tarawih prayers at Assyafaah mosque in Singapore on June 17, 2015.
ouths prepare cookies at a small traditional factory ahead of the holy month of Ramadan in Kabul, Afghanistan on June 17, 2015.
A man reads the Quran at the Grand Mosque in Yemen’s capital Sanaa ahead of the holy month of Ramadan on June 17, 2015.
A Muslim woman attends a Ramadan prayer at Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia
People walk under lights decorating Damascus Gate outside the old city of Jerusalem as Muslims begin the fasting month of Ramadan
A child tries to attract his father's attention father during Tarawih prayers before Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Palestinian people take part in a prayer on the eve of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Gaza City
A Chinese Muslim man offers prayers on the first day of Ramadan at a mosque in Beijing
A migrant barred from entering France reads the Koran at sunrise on the rocks of the seawall at the Saint Ludovic border crossing between Italy and France
A Yemeni vendor sells dates at a market in the old city of Sanaa, as the faithful prepare for the start of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan
Migrants in the Italian city of Ventimiglia say their prayers on the eve of the start of Ramadan.
Syrian refugees wait beneath Ramadan posters on the roadside near the Turkish border crossing of Akcakale.
In the Pakistani city of Peshawar, vendors offer dates - the traditional snack with which to end the fast.
On the first day of the holy month, Afghan children receive religious lessons in the city of Jalalabad.
Muslim schoolchildren are instructed in prayer by their teacher in the southern Philippines.
Muslim devotees ready to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan on June 19, 2015 in the Omani capital Muscat.
Muslims offer prayers on the eve of first day of Ramadan in Allahabad.
ndonesian Muslims pray in the first Tarawih as Muslims begin fasting for Ramadan at Al-Akbar Mosque on June 17, 2015 in Surabaya, Indonesia.
Students perform an afternoon prayer during the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Raudhatul Hasanah Islamic boarding school in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia,
A Palestinian girl looks at a light installation on a street leading to the al-Aqsa Mosque where colored lights have been set up and illuminate the area during the first night of the holy month of Ramadan
Yemenis read the holy Koran at the Great Mosque during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in the old city of Sana’a, Yemen.
A young Afghan prays on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Herat, Afghanistan, June 18, 2015.
Filipino Muslim children walk outside the Pink mosque after attending an Arabic class on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town, Maguindanao province, southern Philippines.
A Kuwaiti vendor arranges dates at a market on June 18, 2015, on the first day of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, in downtown Kuwait City.
People break the Fast on the first day of Ramadan in Peshawar, Pakistan, June 18, 2015.
Pakistani Muslims perform a special “Taraweeh” evening prayer on the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan at the grand Faisal Mosque in Islamabad on June 18, 2015.
A Malaysian Muslim girl breaking her fast on the first day of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday, June 18, 2015.
Palestinians speak on a street leading to the al-Aqsa Mosque where colored lights have been set up and illuminate the area during the first night of the holy month of Ramadan in Jerusalem’s Old City, June 18, 2015 in East Jerusalem.
Muslims pray in the iconic Sultan Ahmed Mosque, better known as the Blue Mosque, in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, Turkey, late Wednesday, June 17, 2015, during the first ‘taraweeh’, nightly prayer of the month of Ramadan.
People prepare sugar drinks to break the Fast on the first day of Ramadan in Peshawar, Pakistan, June 18, 2015.
Indonesians Muslims pray in the first Tarawih as Muslims begin fasting for Ramadan at Al-Akbar Mosque in Surabaya, Indonesia.
Muslims pray after breaking their fast on the first day of Ramadan, the muslim holy month, at a mosque in Beijing. China has banned civil servants, students and teachers in its mainly Muslim Xinjiang region from fasting during Ramadan and ordered restaurants to stay open.
Kenyan Muslim men pray on the first Friday of Ramadan, at Jamia mosque in Nairobi, Kenya.
Thai Muslim women pray at the Pattani Central Mosque to mark the holy month of Ramadan in Pattani.
Pakistani Muslims perform a special “Taraweeh” evening prayer on the first day of Ramadan at a mosque in Lahore.
A Malaysian Muslim arrives to offer prayers on the first Friday of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur.
Bangladeshi street vendors prepare Iftar food for breaking the daytime fast on the first day of Ramadan, the holy fasting month of Islam, at a traditional bazaar in the old part of Dhaka.
Filipino Muslims take part in prayers at the Golden Mosque in Manila.
A vendor carries traditional sweets called ‘Qatayef’ during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Sidon’s Old City in southern Lebanon.
Blind and visually impaired Palestinian girls read the Braille version of the Qur’an during a Qur’an memorization class at the main center of Dar al-Quran Society, on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan in Gaza City. Thousands of Palestinians, among them blind and visually impaired students, are taking lessons which are sponsored by the Muslim organization Dar al-Quran Society. The society teaches people the right recitation of the Muslim holy book and helps them memorize the whole Qur’an, directors in the organization said.
Iraqi Muslim men gather, on the roof of Imam Ali Mosque, waiting to see the crescent moon marking the beginning of Ramadan, at sunset in Basra, Iraq.
Bangladeshi workers prepare to break fast during the holy month of Ramadan at a makeshift mosque near their dormitory in Singapore.
A family shares in a pre-dawn Suhoor meal in Gaza City.
A vendor displays his dates on the first day of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, in a market downtown in Tunis, Tunisia.
Migrants pray for the start of Ramadan as they gather at the French border hoping to enter the country in Ventimiglia, Italy. A group of around 200 migrants, mostly from Libya, Sudan and Eritrea, were left stranded at the border after French police refused them entry to the country.
Pakistani Muslims perform a special “Taraweeh” evening prayer on the first day of Ramadan at the grand Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.
Nepalese Muslims offer the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at The Kashmiri Mosque in Kathmandu.
People read the Qur’an at a mosque during the first day of Ramadan in Cairo, Egypt.
Pain and hardships allow you to grow spiritually Alhamdulilah so smile when a so called calamity befalls upon you.
Alhamdulilah Allah swt is the greatest.
First tarawih in Masjid Baiturrahman, Banda Aceh. June 17.
Atmosphere in women section inside Masjid Baiturrahman. June 17
The gate of Masjid Baiturrahman. June 17.
Masjid Baiturahim, Ulee Lheue, Banda Aceh, prior to salah Juma'ah. June 19. Ulee Lheue beach was hit by tsunami in 2004 which destroy all building in the area and the only survived building was Masjid Baiturahim that located only dozens meters from the beach.
Grilled fish vendor in Peunayong, Banda Aceh, the famous food market for people who want to buy food for iftar. June 18. During Ramadan food market in Peunayong opened at 4.pm to appreciate Muslims who perform fasting.
A woman buy lemang, sticky rice that baked in bamboo in Peunayong food market. June 18
Citizens cook "kanji rumbi" in Masjid Al-Furqan beurawe. Kanji Rumbi is typical Acehnese porridge that usualy served for iftar in Ramadhan.
Masjid Jami Darussalam after salah Jum'ah. July 10. Some citizens are reading Qur'an there.
First tarawih in masjid Amirul Mukminin, a mosque that build over the water in Losari beach, Makassar. June 17. (Photo: jurnalitas.com)
Muslims perform first Tarawih in masjid Pusdai, Bandung. June 17. (Photo: Gani Kurniawan/Tribun Jabar)
Female jama'ah who running out space in mosque hall perform salah tarawih on the yard of Masjid Al-Markaz Al-Islami, Makassar. June 17. (Photo:republika.co.id)
A visitor walk in front of giant Qur'an in Gandus, Palembang. June 18. (Photo: mediaindonesia.com)
Few blind men are reading Braile Qur'an in masjid An-Nur, blind rehabilitation center, Malang. June 18. (Photo: mediaindonesia.com)
A boy watch the big Qur'an in grand mosque of Makasar, June 21. The Qur'an with size 1 x 1.5 meter and weight 584 Kg displayed in the mosque during Ramadhan.
A group of pedicab drivers in Slamet Riyadi street, Solo, perform Tilawah Al-Qur'an while waiting for customers who want to use their service. June 24. (Photo: Suharno/Tribun Jateng)
A Muslim man read Qur'an in masjid Istiqlal, Jakarta. June 19. (Photo: Irwan Rismawan/Tribun News)
A man read diqital Qur'an from his cellphone in Medan grand mosque. June 19. (Photo: Rizki Cahyadi/Tribun Medan)
A group of youth learn archery in the yard of masjid Istiqomah, Bandung. June 21. This archery training progam is organized by Archadut archery club, Bandung, every Sunday afternoon during Ramadhan. (Photo: Gani Kurniawan/Tribun Jabar)
A group of boys beating a drum while walking around residential area in Bandung, to awaken people for zuhoor. June 28. (Photo: Gani Kurniawan/Tribun Jabar)
A boy fills water into bamboo canon in Lahor field, Batu. June 29. There is tradition in that area which people firing bamboo canon as sign of time for breaking the fast. (Photo: tempo.co)
A boy firing bamboo canon in Lahor field, Batu. June 29. (Photo: tempo.co)
A Shaykh from Palestine watch school children who are learning to arrange Eid parcel in Luqman Al Hakim integral elementary school, Surabaya. July 2. (Photo: republika.co.id)
Under guidance of an Islamic teacher, school girls learn in Ramadhan madrasa that held in masjid Sunda Kelapa, Jakarta. July 1. (Photo: republika.co.id)
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A Palestinian boy celebrates with fireworks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip
Indian Muslims offer prayers on the first day of holy month of Ramadan at a mosque in Jammu, the winter capital of Kashmir, India
Muslims attend Friday prayers during the second day of Ramadan, in the courtyard of a housing estate in east London
A young Pakistani Muslim prays during congregational prayers on the first Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Lahore, Pakistan.
Palestinians who had been prevented from crossing into Jerusalem through the Kalandia checkpoint use a ladder to climb over the wall in al-Ram town
Indian Muslim boys pray in the compound of Jama Masjid on the first day of Ramadan in New Delhi, India
Women attend the first Ramadan prayers in a Mosque in Surabaya, eastern Java island
A migrant wrapped in a blanket reads the Koran as he prays at sunrise on the rocks of the seawall at the Saint Ludovic border crossing on the Mediterranean Sea between Ventimiglia, Italy and Menton, France
Migrants pray for the start of Ramadan as they wait to cross the French border from Italy in Ventimiglia, Italy
Rohingya Muslims migrants sleep using mosquito nets during the first day of the fasting month of Ramadhan, at a refugee camp in Bireun Bayeun, East Aceh, Aceh, Indonesia
Filipino Muslim children are taught by an Arabic teacher the proper way of praying on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, outside the Pink mosque in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town, southern Philippines
Muslims pray at the Sultanahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, in Istanbul, Turkey
A migrant prays on the rocky beach at the Franco-Italian border in Ventimiglia, Italy
Afghan children study the Koran during first day of the month of Ramadan at a mosque in Jalalabad
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