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Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, began earlier this week, with the observation of the Hilal, or new moon. The fast, one of the five pillars of Islam, is seen as a time for spiritual reflection, prayers, and charity. After sunset, Muslims traditionally break the fast by eating dates, performing the Maghrib prayer, and sitting down to Iftar, the main evening meal, where communities and families gather together. Gathered here are images of Muslims around the world observing Ramadan this year, including areas of recent turmoil, like Egypt and Turkey. [Modified intro from here].
Muslims scan the horizon for the crescent moon that will determine the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 8, 2013.
Egyptians shop in a market on the eve of Ramadan, the sacred holy month for Muslims where many will fast from sun-up to sun-down, on July 9, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt.
A Palestinian man reads verses from the Quran, Islam's holy book, at al-Omari mosque on the first day of Ramadan, on July 10, 2013 in Gaza City.
An Afghan worker carries sweets at a traditional factory ahead of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in Kabul, Afghanistan, on July 9, 2013.
A Pakistani Muslim performs ablutions before evening prayer at historical Wazir Khan mosque in Lahore, Pakistan, on July 10, 2013.
A Palestinian boy looks at a traditional Ramadan lantern in a street market in Gaza City, on July 6, 2013.
Anti-government protesters eat as they break their fast on the first day Ramadan as police officers take position at Taksim Square in Istanbul, on July 9, 2013. Turkish police allowed thousands of protesters who have been trying to block the redevelopment of a park in Istanbul to break their Ramadan fast on Tuesday before resuming efforts to get them to leave the area.
Workers clean the floor of the Badshahi Mosque ahead of the holy month of Ramadan in Lahore, Pakistan, on July 9, 2013.
Students perform an afternoon prayer on the first day of Ramadan, at Ar-Raudlatul Hasanah Islamic boarding school in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, on July 10, 2013.
Indonesian Muslim women hold prayers on the first night of Ramadan at the Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta, on July 9, 2013.
Students perform an afternoon prayer on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, at Ar-Raudlatul Hasanah Islamic boarding school in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, on July 10, 2013.
Muslims pray in the first Tarawih to mark the start of the month of Ramadan in Cheng Ho Mosque on July 9, 2013 in Surabaya, Indonesia.
A child walks near members of the Muslim community attending midday prayers at Strasbourg Grand Mosque in Strasbourg, Ferance on the first day of Ramadan, July 9, 2013.
A child leans down near members of the Muslim community attending midday prayers at Strasbourg Grand Mosque in Strasbourg, Ferance on the first day of Ramadan, July 9, 2013.
Mosque workers prepare food for distribution to the poor and Muslims who come to break their fast at Noor Mosque in Nairobi, Kenya, on July 10, 2013.
A pastry chef holds a tray of Arabic sweets at his bakery in Gaza City on the eve of the start of Ramadan, on July 9, 2013.
An Indonesian Muslim man reads the Quran at a mosque on July 9, 2013 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Muslims attend an evening communal prayer session called "Tarawih" to mark the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Bajrakli mosque in Belgrade, Serbia, on July 9, 2013.
A Palestinian arranges qatayef, a dessert traditionally eaten during Ramadan, for sale on the first day of Ramadan in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on July 10, 2013.
Muslims attend an evening communal prayer session called "Tarawih" to mark the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Bajrakli mosque in Belgrade, Serbia, on July 9, 2013.
Indonesian Muslim women hold prayers on the first night of the holy month of Ramadan at the Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta, on July 9, 2013.
