Crescent moon is spotted in Saudi Arabia marking start of Ramadan
A member of staff uses a telescope to search the sky for the new moon that signals the start of the Islamic holy fasting month of Ramadan, at the Astronomical Observatory of the Muhammadiyah University of North Sumatra in Medan, Indonesia (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara)
Officials saw the crescent moon on Sunday night in Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites in Islam, marking the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan for many of the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims.
The sacred month, which sees those observing abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset, marks a period of religious reflection, family get-togethers and giving across the Muslim world.
