Saudi Arabia’s King Salman urged the world’s Muslims to put “differences and disunity” aside and ensure that stability and security prospers during the month of Ramadan.
The world is marking the holy month for the second year under strict coronavirus precautions, and Saudi Arabia has brought in new measures due to a surge in infected cases.
“We praise God for allowing us to experience the blessed month of Ramadan, we ask him to ensure stability, security and peace for all Muslims and to overcome the pandemic for everyone,” King Salman said on Twitter on the first day of the holy month.
"God enabled the month of Ramadan to become an opportunity for Muslims to review themselves, encouraging competition in good deeds," he said.
It is a month of "mercy", said the king.
Health Ministry reported 950 new cases on Tuesday during the last 24 hours, taking the total number of infected cases to 400,228.
The ministry also reported eight new deaths, taking the death toll to 6,773.
Ramadan around the Middle East – in pictures
-
Children pose for a photo in front of a large graffiti depicting cultural elements including mosques, churches, old window lattices of the old town of Iraq's northern city of Mosul, on the first night of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, during a celebration hosted by a local cultural NGO. AFP -
A Syrian man adjusts decorations for the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Clock Square in Syria's rebel-held northwestern city of Idlib. AFP -
Lebanese military fire a blank from a cannon a day prior to Ramadan to announce the holy month in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA -
Vehicles, motorcycles, and tuk-tuks (motorised rickshaws) drive past a stall selling Ramadan lanterns along the main street in the northern suburb of Shubra (home to a large Christian population) of Egypt's capital Cairo, at the start of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. AFP -
A Palestinian boy waves fireworks as people celebrate the start of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. AFP -
People pray at the Eyup Sultan Mosque, in Istanbul a day before Ramadan. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was forced to announce renewed restrictions following a spike on COVID-19 cases, such as weekend lockdowns and the closure of cafes and restaurants during Ramadan, the holy Muslim month, starting on April 13. AP Photo -
A vendor decorates his shop at a market in Kuwait City marking the start of the holy month of Ramadan. AFP -
Muslims pray during the first dawn prayers of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, as they keep social distancing to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. During Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. AP Photo -
People sit near the Dome of the Rock at the Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site, in the old city of Jerusalem, on the eve of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. AFP
King Salman also urged citizens and residents to strictly adhere to the coronavirus preventive measures and to ensure that everyone takes the vaccine.
The government announced new regulations for the holy month.
King Salman approved that taraweeh prayers be shortened from 20 rakaat (salutations) to 10, limiting the Ramadan prayers to 30 minutes, in addition to maintaining restrictions on the number of worshippers in the holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah.
Social distancing and wearing of masks will be mandatory for all visitors.
“Saudi Arabia’s efforts have yielded success in combating the coronavirus pandemic.”
“We are proud of the precautionary measures taken by the kingdom and the advanced technology used by it to ensure the safety of those who wish to visit the Two Holy Mosques,” he said.
During the holy month, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. It typically lasts for either 29 or 30 days.
