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Article: RAMADAN: ISLAM'S HOLIEST MONTH.(News)
- Article from:
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- Article date:
- November 17, 2001
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Seattle Post-Intelligencer. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of the Dialog Corporation by Gale Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Muslims around the world begin a month of fasting, worship and contemplation today with the start of Ramadan, the ninth month in Islam's calendar. There's an added focus on the holiday this year as Muslim leaders are calling for an end to the U.S. bombing campaign in Afghanistan for the month.
START OF RAMADAN
The month begins with the sighting of the new, crescent moon. Islam uses a lunar calendar. Months don't necessarily have 30 days and the new day begins in the evening. How best to determine when the crescent moon is visible is a matter of debate. Muslim communities have traditionally relied on the direct siting of the new moon but some are now ...