Saudi Arabia, Gulf neighbours say Ramadan to start on Saturday
The holy month, during which hundreds of millions of faithful around the world observe a daytime fast, traditionally begins with the sighting of the crescent moon.
Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's two holiest sites, was joined by its Gulf Arab neighbours in declaring that it had been sighted on Friday.
"The Supreme Court has decided that tomorrow, Saturday, is the first day of the month of (Ramadan)," the official Saudi Press Agency posted on X.
Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, the Palestinian territories and Sudan announced they too would begin the fast on Saturday.
But the office of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, declared Sunday the first day of Ramadan.
In multi-confessional Lebanon, the grand mufti announced Saturday as the first day of Ramadan for Sunnis, state media reported.
Observing the Ramadan fast is one of the five pillars of Islam, requiring believers to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours. Observant Muslims are also encouraged to donate to the poor.
burs/kir/it
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Business News
3 days ago
- Time Business News
Learn Quran Online in the US with Al Madina Quran Academy
Access to Islamic education—especially the Quran—has evolved to meet the needs of Muslims across the globe. For Muslims living in the United States, balancing work, school, and family life often makes it challenging to attend physical Quran classes. That's where Online Quran Academies come in. Suppose you're searching for 'Quran tutor near me US', or looking for Quran classes for kids in the US. In that case, Al Madina Quran Academy offers flexible, high-quality, and certified Online Quran Classes in the US tailored to meet the needs of parents, students, professionals, and reverts alike. 🌐 Visit: The Muslim population in the United States has been steadily growing. According to Pew Research Center, there were approximately 3.85 million Muslims in the U.S. in 2020, a number that continues to rise. With this growing community comes the demand for accessible and quality Islamic education. Busy Lifestyles: Parents and professionals often have limited time for in-person sessions. Parents and professionals often have limited time for in-person sessions. Lack of Local Institutions: Many cities lack reliable Quran academies or certified tutors. Many cities lack reliable Quran academies or certified tutors. Safety & Convenience: Especially post-pandemic, online learning has become the norm. Especially post-pandemic, online learning has become the norm. Technology Access: High-speed internet and smart devices make virtual learning seamless. Enrolling in Online Quran Classes US comes with a wide range of benefits, especially for families looking for a structured and consistent Islamic learning environment. Whether you're a working parent, a college student, or a revert exploring Islam, online Quran classes fit easily into your schedule. You can choose from early morning, evening, or weekend sessions based on your availability. Our one-on-one classes ensure every student progresses at their own pace. We design personalized learning plans for: Children as young as 4 years old Teens preparing for Hifz Adults learning Tajweed or Tafsir Our male and female Quran teachers in US are not only qualified with Ijazah but also trained to teach American students using effective teaching methodologies. We maintain a safe online environment for kids and women by using password-protected Zoom/Skype classrooms and monitored sessions. Before choosing any Online Quran Academy, it's important to know what makes a platform trustworthy and effective. ✅ Certified Quran Tutors with strong command in Tajweed, Tafsir, and Hifz ✅ Flexible Scheduling across all U.S. time zones ✅ Dedicated Support for Kids, Reverts, and Working Adults ✅ Interactive Tools such as screen sharing, whiteboard, and audio recordings ✅ Progress Reports & Certificates upon course completion ✅ Female Quran Teachers US-based or fluent in English for comfort and ease At Al Madina Quran Academy, our mission is to make the Quran accessible to every Muslim home in America. Our tailored programs meet the unique needs of Muslims living in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, and beyond. 📖 Quran Classes for Kids in US – Fun, engaging, and age-appropriate Quran learning – Fun, engaging, and age-appropriate Quran learning 🧕 Classes with Female Quran Teachers US – For women and girls who prefer female tutors – For women and girls who prefer female tutors 🧠 Online Hifz Classes US – Structured memorization programs with daily revision and testing – Structured memorization programs with daily revision and testing 🕌 Quran for Beginners – Perfect for reverts and adults starting their journey – Perfect for reverts and adults starting their journey 🗣️ Tajweed Mastery Program – Learn the rules of proper Quran pronunciation We understand that every family's schedule is different. That's why our Quran classes are designed with maximum flexibility: 🕗 Morning & evening times for working parents📆 Weekend sessions for school-going children 🌎 Adjusted schedules for PST, EST, CST, and MST zones Whether you're living in California, Texas, Florida, or New Jersey, our team ensures a time space that fits your life. Personal attention is critical in Quran learning. At Al Madina Quran Academy, every student receives one-on-one tutoring to: Ensure better focus and understanding Encourage questions and interaction Track progress weekly Adapt the pace of the lesson to individual needs Our Quran tutors near you in the US are fluent in both English and Arabic, making communication easy for kids and adults alike. We believe that learning the Quran should be accessible to every household. That's why we offer customized pricing plans for families, students, and reverts. Starter Plan: $30/month (2 classes/week) Family Plan: $75/month (multiple kids) Intensive Hifz Plan: $120/month (daily sessions) Discounts for Reverts, Siblings, and Annual Payments 🎁 Free trial class available – No commitment required! ⭐ 'My 9-year-old daughter has been learning with a female Quran teacher from Al Madina for 6 months now. Her Tajweed has improved drastically. Highly recommended!' — Ayesha Khan, Dallas, TX ⭐ 'I'm a revert from New York and needed someone to teach me the basics of Quran with Tajweed. The teacher was patient and helpful. I never felt judged.' — Brandon Yusuf, New York, NY ⭐ 'The flexibility to learn after my work hours in LA has made a huge difference. The one-on-one classes keep me consistent.' — Omar Malik, Los Angeles, CA Yes! Our platform is designed to allow students across the US to learn the Quran from the comfort of their home using just a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Absolutely. We specialize in Quran classes for kids in US, using fun, engaging methods appropriate for young learners. Yes, we provide female Quran teachers US-based or fluent in English, ideal for women and girls who prefer female instructors. Online Quran classes provide equal or better results, with the added convenience of flexible scheduling, no commute, and customized lessons. Simply visit and schedule your free trial class. Our team will guide you through the registration process. Whether you're a parent in Chicago, a student in Houston, a busy entrepreneur in New York, or a new Muslim in Los Angeles, Al Madina Quran Academy is here to support you with trusted, flexible, and effective online Quran education. 👉 Start your free trial today at: 🔗 Also explore these helpful resources: Join thousands of Muslim families in the US who trust Al Madina Quran Academy to help them and their children build a strong connection with the Book of Allah. 📖 Because Quran is not just for reading—it's for living. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Washington Post
With no access to education beyond the 6th grade, girls in Afghanistan turn to religious schools
KABUL, Afghanistan — For six hours every day after school, Nahideh works in a cemetery, collecting water from a nearby shrine to sell to mourners visiting loved ones' graves. She dreams of becoming a doctor — but knows it is a futile dream. When the next school year starts, she will be enrolling in a madrassa, a religious school, to learn about the Quran and Islam — and little else.
The Hill
4 days ago
- The Hill
With no access to education beyond the 6th grade, girls in Afghanistan turn to religious schools
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — For six hours every day after school, Nahideh works in a cemetery, collecting water from a nearby shrine to sell to mourners visiting loved ones' graves. She dreams of becoming a doctor — but knows it is a futile dream. When the next school year starts, she will be enrolling in a madrassa, a religious school, to learn about the Quran and Islam — and little else. 'I prefer to go to school, but I can't, so I will go to a madrassa,' she said, dark brown eyes peering out from beneath her tightly wrapped black headscarf. 'If I could go to school then I could learn and become a doctor. But I can't.' At the age of 13, Nahideh is in the last grade of primary school, the limit of education allowed for girls in Afghanistan. The country's Taliban government banned girls from secondary school and university three years ago — the only country in the world to do so. The ban is part of myriad restrictions on women and girls, dictating everything from what they can wear to where they can go and who they can go with. With no option for higher education, many girls and women are turning to madrassas instead. The only learning allowed 'Since the schools are closed to girls, they see this as an opportunity,' said Zahid-ur-Rehman Sahibi, director of the Tasnim Nasrat Islamic Sciences Educational Center in Kabul. 'So, they come here to stay engaged in learning and studying religious sciences.' The center's roughly 400 students range in ages from about 3 to 60, and 90% are female. They study the Quran, Islamic jurisprudence, the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, and Arabic, the language of the Quran. Most Afghans, Sahibi noted, are religious. 'Even before the schools were closed, many used to attend madrassas,' he said. 'But after the closure of schools, the interest has increased significantly, because the doors of the madrassas remain open to them.' No recent official figures are available on the number of girls enrolled in madrassas, but officials say the popularity of religious schools overall has been growing. Last September, Deputy Minister of Education Karamatullah Akhundzada said at least 1 million students had enrolled in madrassas over the past year alone, bringing the total to over 3 million. Studying the Quran Sheltered from the heat of an early summer's day in a basement room at the Tasnim Nasrat center, Sahibi's students knelt at small plastic tables on the carpeted floor, their pencils tracing lines of Arabic script in their Qurans. All 10 young women wore black niqabs, the all-encompassing garment that includes a veil, leaving only the eyes visible. 'It is very good for girls and women to study at a madrassa, because … the Quran is the word of Allah, and we are Muslims,' said 25-year-old Faiza, who had enrolled at the center five months earlier. 'Therefore, it is our duty to know what is in the book that Allah has revealed to us, to understand its interpretation and translation.' Given a choice, she would have studied medicine. While she knows that is now impossible, she still harbors hope that if she shows she is a pious student dedicated to her religion, she will be eventually allowed to. The medical profession is one of the very few still open to women in Afghanistan. 'When my family sees that I am learning Quranic sciences and that I am practicing all the teachings of the Quran in my life, and they are assured of this, they will definitely allow me to continue my studies,' she said. Her teacher said he'd prefer if women were not strictly limited to religious studies. 'In my opinion, it is very important for a sister or a woman to learn both religious sciences and other subjects, because modern knowledge is also an important part of society,' Sahibi said. 'Islam also recommends that modern sciences should be learned because they are necessary, and religious sciences are important alongside them. Both should be learned simultaneously.' A controversial ban The female secondary and higher education ban has been controversial in Afghanistan, even within the ranks of the Taliban itself. In a rare sign of open dissent, Deputy Foreign Minister Sher Abbas Stanikzai said in a public speech in January that there was no justification for denying education to girls and women. His remarks were reportedly not well tolerated by the Taliban leadership; Stanikzai is now officially on leave and is believed to have left the country. But they were a clear indication that many in Afghanistan recognize the long-term impact of denying education to girls. 'If this ban persists until 2030, over four million girls will have been deprived of their right to education beyond primary school,' UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement at the start of Afghanistan's new school year in March. 'The consequences for these girls — and for Afghanistan — are catastrophic. The ban negatively impacts the health system, the economy, and the future of the nation.' The importance of religious education For some in this deeply conservative society, the teachings of Islam are hard to overstate. 'Learning the Holy Quran is the foundation of all other sciences, whether it's medicine, engineering, or other fields of knowledge,' said Mullah Mohammed Jan Mukhtar, 35, who runs a boys' madrassa north of Kabul. 'If someone first learns the Quran, they will then be able to learn these other sciences much better.' His madrassa first opened five years ago with 35 students. Now it has 160 boys aged 5-21, half of whom are boarders. Beyond religious studies, it offers a limited number of other classes such as English and math. There is also an affiliated girls' madrassa, which currently has 90 students, he said. 'In my opinion, there should be more madrassas for women,' said Mukhtar, who has been a mullah for 14 years. He stressed the importance of religious education for women. 'When they are aware of religious verdicts, they better understand the rights of their husbands, in-laws and other family members.'
