2009-08-27T13:29:00.000-07:00

GLOBAL UMMAH IN PICTURES
Where a Picture speaks more than a thousand words

Editor: Mohamed & Rashida Ziauddin

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful

RAMZAN - 2009

SPECIAL PICTURES:

JORDAN

The crescent moon of the holy month of Ramadan is seen through festive lights in Amman August 26, 2009. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed

TURKEY

WEST BANK

A member of the Palestinian Astronomical Society looks through a telescope to scan for the new moon that will mark the start of the holy month of Ramadan in the West Bank city of Ramallah August 20, 2009. Muslims scan the sky at dusk at the end of their lunar calendar's eighth month in search of the new moon to proclaim the beginning of Ramadan, Islam's holiest month, during which observant believers fast from dawn to dusk. REUTERS/Fadi Arouri

MALAYSIA

Officers of Malaysia's Islamic authority use a telescope to perform "rukyah", the sighting of the new moon of Ramadan, in Teluk Kemang, 110 km (68 miles) south of Kuala Lumpur August 20, 2009. Muslims scan the sky at dusk in the beginning of the lunar calendar's ninth month in search of the new moon to proclaim the start of Ramadan, Islam's holiest month during which observant believers fast from dawn to dusk. Muslims celebrate the end of sacred Ramadan with the Eid al-Fitr festival. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad

President Barack Obama, seen here on August 18, 2009, on Friday pledged "concrete actions" to renew ties with the Muslim world, in a message marking the start of Ramadan. (AFP/File/Jim Watson)

EUROPE:

GERMANY

A woman attends prayers on the evening of the first day of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan at Merkez mosque in Duisburg August 21, 2009. Muslims around the world congregate for special evening prayers called "tarawih" during the fasting month of Ramadan. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender

Muslims attend prayers on the evening of the first day of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan at Merkez mosque in Duisburg August 21, 2009. Muslims around the world congregate for special evening prayers called "Tarawih" during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender)

The Merkez mosque is seen on the first day of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan in Duisburg August 21, 2009. Muslims around the world congregate for special evening prayers called "tarawih" during the fasting month of Ramadan. The sign reads "Welcome the eagerly awaited Ramadan". REUTERS/Ina Fassbender

A man plugs in an electronic board with the prayer timings on the first day of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan at Merkez mosque in Duisburg August 21, 2009. Muslims around the world congregate for special evening prayers called "tarawih" during the fasting month of Ramadan. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender

Muslims attend prayers on the evening of the first day of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan at Merkez mosque in Duisburg August 21, 2009. Muslims around the world congregate for special evening prayers called "tarawih" during the fasting month of Ramadan. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender

A man arrives for the evening prayers of the first day of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan at Merkez mosque in Duisburg August 21, 2009. Muslims around the world congregate for special evening prayers called "tarawih" during the fasting month of Ramadan. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender

A Muslim woman serves herself as she breaks her fast on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan at the Merkez mosque in Duisburg August 21, 2009. Muslims around the world congregate for special evening prayers called "tarawih" during the fasting month of Ramadan. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender

TURKEY

ANKARA Worshippers attend Friday prayers at the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, in Ankara August 21, 2009. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and conducting sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Muslim families eat as they break their fast in a giant tent on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan in Istanbul August 21, 2009. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and conducting sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Osman Orsal

Resul Celikok, a translator from the Istanbul Municipality Health and Social Service Department, (L) uses sign language to translate a sermon delivered by the imam to hearing-impaired worshippers during Friday prayers at a mosque on the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, in Istanbul August 21, 2009. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and conducting sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Murad Sezer

A woman and her two daughters break their fast during the iftar, on the first day of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Aug. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)

AFRICA:

KENYA:

A Kenyan Muslim child reads verses from the Quran, Islam's holy book, on the fifth day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a Madrassa (Religion School), in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, where observants fast from dawn till dusk. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

Kenyan Muslim children are taught verses of the Quran, Islam's holy book, by a religious teacher on the fifth day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a Madrassa (Religion School), in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, where observants fast from dawn till dusk. (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)

ALGERIA

Algerian women buy vegetables at a popular market in Algiers. Muslims entered the fasting and feasting month of Ramadan with swine flu and the economic downturn adding to the security fears that plague several Islamic countries in dampening the mood. (AFP/Str)

ASIA:

BAHRAIN

BAHRAIN: Men, largely Asian Muslim laborers, gather to break their fast Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009, at a tent set up beside a mosque along a street in Janabiyah, Bahrain, west of the capital, Manama. Mosques often provide public iftar meals _the evening meal to break daylong fasting — during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Most Bahrainis gather for family dinners during the holy month, but many expat workers break their fasts together at the open tents.
(AP Photo / Hasan Jamali)

Bahraini boys go door to door selling fresh fish shortly before the day's fasting ends with a big meal Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009, in the village of Janussan, Bahrain, on the outskirts of the capital, Manama. Muslims in Bahrain, like others around the world, fast during daylight hours in the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. (AP Photo / Hasan Jamali)

JORDAN

Jordanian Muslim children enjoy a free meal at Takyet Um Ali, a charity association offers hot meals for the poor people, on the Fifth day of the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan, in Amman, Jordan, Aug. 26, 2009. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, where observants fast from dawn till dusk. (AP Photo/Nader Daoud)

INDIA:

Muslims perform ablution from the fountain waters inside the compound of Kashmir's Jamia Masjid during Ramadan in Srinagar August 26, 2009. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Fayaz Kabli

A Kashmiri Muslim feeds pigeons outside the Hazaratbal Shrine on the third day of the holy month of Ramadan in Srinagar, India, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009. Muslims throughout the world are marking the month of Ramadan to fast from dawn till dusk.

Muslim women perform prayers inside Kashmir's Jamia Masjid during Ramadan in Srinagar August 26, 2009. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Fayaz Kabli (INDIAN-ADMINISTERED KASHMIR)

An Indian worker looks on as he hangs strands of vermicelli to dry at a factory in Allahabad, India, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009. Vermicelli is in demand among Muslims when they break the day long fast during the holy month of Ramadan. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Kashmiri Muslim offer prayers on a street in Srinagar, India, Monday, Aug. 24, 2009. During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

Muslims break their fast on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan at the Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque) in the old quarters of Delhi August 23, 2009. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Parth Sanyal

This Sept. 22, 2008 file photo shows Kashmiri Muslim women praying as the head priest, unseen, displays the holy relic believed to be the hair from the beard of the Prophet Mohammad, during special prayers to observe the Martyr Day of Hazrat Ali, cousin of Prophet Mohammed on the 21st day of Ramadan at the Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar, India. Muslims across the world are observing the holy fasting month of Ramadan, where they refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan,File)

MALAYSIA

A Malaysian Muslim walks inside a mosque before Friday prayers in downtown Kuala Lumpur Friday, Aug. 21, 2009. The Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan will begin on Saturday in Malaysia. Practicing Muslims on fasting month or Ramadan as devotees refrain from eating, drinking and sexual activity from sunrise to sunset and will celebrate the end of holy month with the Eid al-Fitr festival. AP Photo/Vincent Thian

INDONESIA

Muslim women perform an evening prayer called 'Tarawih' marking the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Irwin Fedriansyah)

Women take a nap in the grand Istiqlal mosque while waiting to break their fast during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Jakarta August 24, 2009. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and conducting sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Crack Palinggi

Indonesian Muslims offer special 'Taraweh' prayers at Istiqlal mosque as the holy fasting month of Ramadan begins in Jakarta. (AFP/Adek Berry)

BANGLADESH

Bangladeshi Muslims take a nap before the afternoon prayers at Baitul Mukaram mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, Aug. 24, 2009. During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset. (AP Photo/Pavel Rahman)

SRI LANKA

Men gather for glasses of water after breaking their fast on the second day of Ramadan in the Dewatagaha Jumma Mosque in Colombo August 24, 2009. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Andrew Caballero-Reynolds

PHILLIPINES

A man prays inside a mosque in Taguig city, south of Manila August 20, 2009. A military official said on Thursday, there is no let up of operations against lawless elements in Basilan province, southern Philippines, despite the start of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan. Government troops are tracking down Abu Sayyaf members involved in a fierce fight on August 12, 2009 when soldiers overran the group's training camp, local media reported. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

PAKISTAN

People wait to break their fast, during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009 in Lahore, Pakistan. During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, observant Muslims throughout the world refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset. (AP Photo / K.M.Chaudary)

A view of roadside stalls sell Ramadan delicacies, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009 in Lahore, Pakistan. During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, observant Muslims throughout the world refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset. (AP Photo / K.M.Chaudary)

SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Prince Khaled al-Faisal (R), Governor of Mecca, welcomes Jordan's King Abdullah upon his arrival at Jeddah Airport August 25, 2009. King Abdullah was on his way to the holy city of Mecca to perform Umra, a mini pilgrimage. The umra can be performed at any time but is popular during Ramadan, which this year starts in August. REUTERS/SAUDI PRESS AGENCY

A Muslim pilgrim and his wife wear face masks as they walk outside the Grand Mosque in Mecca on August 19. The Gulf sultanate of Oman has recorded its sixth death from swine flu, a 23-year-old woman who was already ill, the health ministry said in a statement. (AFP/File)

A Filipino man embraces Saudi Sheikh Noah to celebrate his conversion to Islam before breaking fast during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Riyadh August 24, 2009. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and conducting sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/ Fahad Shadeed

A Saudi woman buys dates, at Otaiga market in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, in preparation for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which is expected in less than a week. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

WEST BANK, GAZA AND NABLUS

Palestinian girls read the Koran in a mosque on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan in the West Bank city of Nablus August 22, 2009. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and conducting sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini

The Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site and known by Jews as Temple Mount, is seen through festive lights for Ramadan in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating the holy fasting month of Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, refraining from eating, drinking, and smoking from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Palestinians play hand drums as they call worshippers for prayers during the holy month of Ramadan outside the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City early morning August 25, 2009. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Palestinian Muslim girls and women, pray in a yard outside a mosque, after breaking the fast on the third day of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, Aug. 24, 2009. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, where observants fast from dawn till dusk. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

A Palestinian child reacts during a struggle to get a ration of donated food from the Islamic Waqf, during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in the West Bank city of Hebron, Monday, Aug. 24, 2009. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating the holy fasting month of Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, refraining from eating, drinking, and smoking from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

LEBANON:

Lebanese Mohammed Fanas, 61, left, a dawn awakener or Al Musaharati in Arabic, holds his lantern and beats on his drum to wake up Muslims for a meal before sunrise, as he walks through old streets at the southern Lebanese port city of Sidon, Lebanon, on early Wednesday Aug. 26, 2009. Al Musaharati is an old profession on its way to extinction as people nowadays use the alarm clock. During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, observant Muslims fast from dawn until dusk. The meal before sunrise is known as the Sohour. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

A Musaharati, dawn awakener, strikes his drum to wake observant Muslims for their overnight 'sahur', last meal, before the day's fast in Sidon's Old City in south Lebanon just before dawn August 26, 2009. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and conducting sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho

A Musaharati, dawn awakener, prepares his drum before touring the streets to wake observant Muslims for their overnight 'sahur', last meal, before the day's fast in Sidon's Old City in south Lebanon just before dawn August 26, 2009. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and conducting sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/ Ali Hashisho

SYRIA

A Muslim girl walks as she reads the Koran before Iftar, when Muslims break their fast, during the holy month of Ramadan at the historic Umayyad Mosque in Old Damascus August 26, 2009. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and conducting sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri

A Muslim woman prays before Iftar, when Muslims break their fast, during the holy month of Ramadan at the historic Umayyad Mosque in Old Damascus August 26, 2009. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and conducting sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri

Muslim women read the Koran before Iftar, when Muslims break their fast, during the holy month of Ramadan at the historic Umayyad Mosque in Old Damascus August 26, 2009. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and conducting sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri

THE END

Ummah in Pictures