Ramadan 2016 began in the evening of Sunday, June 5 and ends in the evening of Tuesday, July 5.
Religious authorities in most Middle Eastern countries announced the new moon of Ramadan was spotted on Sunday evening. The sighting of the new moon marks the beginning of the Muslim lunar month that varies between 29 and 30 days.
Ramadan begins around 11 days earlier each year. Some countries use astronomical calculations and observatories, while others rely on their eyes alone, leading sometimes to different starting times in the Middle East.
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, also said Muslims there would begin fasting on Monday, as will Muslims in Singapore, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories, among others.
Ramadan is the fourth of the five pillars of Islam. It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the time when Muslims across the world will fast during the hours of daylight. The other acts of worship are the shahadah, which is the declaration of faith; salat, the five daily prayers; zakat, or almsgiving; and the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Read more about Ramadan at Al Jazeera.
Check out some tips on how to exercise and keep healthy during Ramadan featured at The National.