Ramadan 2023: UAE worshippers attend first morning prayers

Muslims in the UAE have attended the first morning prayers of Ramadan this year.

The fajr morning prayer marks the beginning of the obligatory daily fasting.

The holiest month of the year in Islam, Ramadan is observed by more than 1.9 billion Muslims. It is said to be the month the Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed.

It is typically a time for reflection and spending time with loved ones.

Al Bidya Mosque in Fujairah, which dates back to the 15th century. Leslie Pableo for The National

Worshippers outside Al Bidya Mosque, the oldest mosque in the UAE that is still in use. Leslie Pableo for The National

Inside Al Bidya mosque at the start of Ramadan. Leslie Pableo for The National

The Bani Hashim Mosque in Abu Dhabi, on the first morning of Ramadan. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Worshippers at the first early morning Ramadan prayer at the Bani Hashim Mosque. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The first early morning Ramadan prayer at the Bani Hashim Mosque. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Imam Rashid Zobair, who is originally from Morocco, leads early morning Ramadan prayer at the Bani Hashim Mosque. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

The Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Worshippers at the Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque on the first morning of the holy month. Antonie Robertson/The National

Worshippers at the Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque. Antonie Robertson/The National

The first morning prayer of Ramadan at the Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque. Antonie Robertson/The National

Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Fujairah during the first evening prayer of Ramadan. Leslie Pableo for The National

Worshippers arrive at Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the second largest in the UAE, for the first evening prayer of Ramadan. Leslie Pableo for The National

Worshippers at Sheikh Zayed Mosque for the start of the holy month. Leslie Pableo for The National

Fasting during the holy month is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is mandatory for all Muslims who are in good health.

Ramadan is also considered a nocturnal month for Muslims who end their daily fast at sunset, then begin longer-form taraweeh prayers, an additional extended evening prayer performed after isha.

Taraweeh prayers are then traditionally followed by social gatherings that last into the night.

This year, Muslims in the UAE will begin the month by fasting for about 14 hours and 45 minutes.

As the days lengthen, the fasting time increases. By the last day of the holy month the fast will be about 46 minutes longer than on the first.

On Wednesday, President Sheikh Mohamed called for “peace and harmony” for people in the UAE and across the globe in an uplifting Ramadan message.

The UAE leader wished for a “blessed month of reflection” on the eve of Ramadan.

“As the holy month of Ramadan begins, I wish you all a blessed month of reflection and pray that God continues to grant peace and harmony to the people of the UAE and the world,” Sheikh Mohamed wrote on Twitter.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, also shared a Ramadan message on social media.

“All congratulations to the people of the Emirates and to all the Arab and Islamic peoples on the occasion of the blessed month of Ramadan,” he wrote on Twitter.

Earlier, the President had sent out Ramadan greetings to leaders across the Arab world.

Sheikh Mohamed offered congratulatory messages to the kings, emirs and presidents of Islamic nations, state news agency Wam reported.

He called for the continued good health and well-being of the leaders and their people and expressed his desire for further progress and prosperity for Arab and Islamic countries.

The President’s sentiments were echoed by the Ruler of Dubai.