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Holy Month of Ramadan Begins With Sighting of Crescent Moon

Ramadan, for observant Muslims, is a time of fasting, prayer and charitable giving.
Image: Bahrainis look for the sliver of a new moon that would indicate the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan
Bahrainis look for the sliver of a new moon that would indicate the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, while standing on the shore of the Persian Gulf in the western village of Karzakan, Bahrain, on June 28, 2014.AP

The sighting of a sliver of a new moon indicates the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan, for observant Muslims, is a time of fasting, prayer and charitable giving.

Image: South African muslims gather on the beach front in Cape Town
South African Muslims gather on the beach front in Cape Town on Saturday as they try to spot the new moon, signalling the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan.JENNIFER BRUCE / AFP - Getty Images