Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, began last Friday, July 20. Muslims around the world abstain from food, drink and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during the holy month. Ramadan is also a time of spiritual reflection, improvement and increased devotion and worship. Check out photos from Capture the Spirit of Ramadan, an international photography contest that shows how Muslims around the world are bringing in Ramadan.
A young street vendor smiles as he sells pickles at market on Omar El-Mokhtar street. Gaza, Palestine.
At the market, a date seller awaits customers. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Colors of Ramadan. Streets of Abu Dhabi decorated with Ramadan lights. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The Ramadan lanterns, or Fanous, a time-honoured accompaniment of the holy month. Souq Waqif, Doha, Qatar.
Women making pastries for iftar, the breaking of fast. Solo, Indonesia.
The Floating Mosque. Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
A villager reads the Qur'an. Yefren, Lybia.
A man prays the afternoon prayer after a day of rafting. Blagaj, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A musaharati, drummer, wakes people up for suhoor, the early breakfast before fasting begins at sunrise. Jerusalem, Palestine.
Taraweeh (night) prayers in the mosque of the Prophet Muhammad. Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Local bakers prepare bread. Kairouan, Tunisia.
Evening shops - streets filled with small shops that sell samosa and sweet cakes. Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Kids play fire football in front of a school after the night prayers. Sleman, DI Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Nur Fitriani poses for a photo shoot for an Indonesian teen magazine at the Grand Mosque (Masjid Raya), Makassar, Indonesia.
The city of Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Corniche Mosque, located on the shore of the Red Sea. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Qatayef, an Arab dessert commonly served during the month of Ramadan, a sort of sweet dumpling filled with cream or nuts. Gaza, Palestine.
Locals at the markets in the streets of Gaza. Palestine.
A young boy reads the Qur'an. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A woman carries home firewood from the forest to serve as fuel so she can cook for her family. Tuban, East Java, Indonesia.
A man recites the Qur'an on his scooter in the streets of Cairo, Egypt.
A man performs ablution, the act of washing for ritual purification, in the desert. Awal Valley, Libya.
A young girl recites the Qur'an. Skopje, Macedonia.
A family prepares for Iftar on a beach in Alexandria, Egypt.
People visit Wazir Khan mosque in Lahore, Pakistan.
Two Indonesian men with visual impairment read braille Qur'an. Solo, Indonesia.
Locals line up to receive free traditional Samin porridge to break their fast. Solo, Indonesia.
Colorful Ramadan toys. Gaza, Palestine.
Prayers at the Nasir Al Molk Mosque. Shiraz, Iran.
Congregants at the steps of Jama Masjid, Delhi, India.
A couple recite the Qur'an under a tree in a city park in Batam Island, Indonesia.
Capturing the sunset. Palestine.
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