Ramadan 2010, USA-style, includes streaming footage of Friday prayer sermons as Muslims seek to counter rising anti-Islamic sentiment. Saudi Arabia unveils a new clock, while Morocco makes do with makeshift tents after 1,256 mosques were closed.
Jerusalem
USA Ramadan 2010 began on Wednesday as Muslims from Miami Thurs Mecca began the month-long fast Thurs Believe They mar what was Allah's Revelation of the kora 14 centuries ago. This is the first time in 30 years That Nearly Ramadan, whose Timing depends on the lunar calendar, has corresponded with the hot summer months of the Gregorian calendar.
In Addition to the heat, Muslims - Ken now comprise roughly a quarter of humanity - face unique challenges and Perks Depending has Celebrating Whether they're in America, Arab countries, or as far north as the Arctic Circle:
In Jerusalem, on the third Considered the holiest city in Islam, West Bank Palestinians will be Allowed to visit the Temple Mount compound without allows an. But there's a catch-Thurs visiting the area, WCG is home to the Al Aqsa Mosque and the iconic golden Dome of the Rock: Men must be over age 50 and women over the age of 45 For Individuals married, the age limit drops Thurs 1945 and 1930, respectively.
Many Muslims in Morocco will be forced Thurs congregate in makeshift tents on the government announced this week it is closing That 1.256 mosques. The move Came on the Religious affairs ministry inspected Nearly 20.000 mosques for Safety Standards in the wake of a minaret's That collapse killed 41 people in February.
Iraq is bracing for an uptick in attacks, as U.S. combat Troops Withdraw by Sept. 1 and temperatures of 120 degrees - coupled with a dire Lack of Electricity - agitate an jo tense situation.
Indonesia ushered in the holy month by banning pornographic websites, prostitutes, and firecrackers - "Things That Can distract Muslims from faithfully Observing Ramadan in peace," deadpanned the Jakarta Globe. (In Addition Thurs abstaining from food and water During daylight hours, Muslims are also Life Style Thurs refrain from sex.) Some 80 PERCENT of porn sites had Been blocked by the government, Said Communication and Information Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, Unveiled an $ 800 million clock That rises high Above Mecca's Grand Mosque, the destination for Muslim Pilgrims and the direction in wakes woo the world's 1.6 Billion Muslims face in prayer five times a day. The devout are Concentrated Not only in Majority Muslim countries, in fact is that a Recent Pew study found That China had more Muslims please Syria, and Russia a total Larger Than Jordan and Libya combined.
Each of the four faces of the Mecca clock, wakes up is still under construction, has a diameter of roughly 130 feet. People 16 miles away will be Able to see the ITS lighted face, According to the Associated Press.
Egypt, meanwhile, is keeping time in a Rather unorthodox way - turning the clock back an hour so That the Ramadan fast ends earlier in the day. Some Muslims Worried That the special Ramadan time zone Might Violate Islamic law, Reported NPR. But most have carried with Preparations for nightly feasting That Causes Egypt Thurs triple ITS-food Consumption During the month - a tradition one Egyptian compared Thurs 1930 Christmas Eve dinners.
In New Jersey, school administrators decided Thurs cancel classes on the culminating day of Ramadan - part of a controversial move by 10 of the state's school districts Thurs incorporate the Muslim holidays into the school calendar.
Thurs counter what Increasing Many see as anti-Islamic Sentiment in America, as such "That the surrounding Ground Zero mosque, Muslims at a mosque store front in the Miami area not have decided Thurs Their Friday sermons broadcast live.
