Muslim holy month begins 

By Ifham Nizam

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began at sundown on Friday, the Colombo Grand Mosque said.It said that the faithful is prepared for a month of dawn-to-dusk fasting intended to bring them closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less fortunate.

Muslims all over the world will observe a month of fasting and prayers during Ramadan to commemorate the time when the Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed on the night of “Laylat Al Qadr”.

Fasting during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is considered to be one of the Five Pillars of Islam.Muslims believe that Ramadan is the month when the first verses of the Holy Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad more than 1,400 years ago, said All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama President Ash Shaikh Mufthi M.I.M. Rizwe and General Secretary Ash Shaikh M. Arkam Nooramith in a message.