Arab countries are adapting Ramadan traditions to pandemic

Muslim authorities have discussed regulations for online prayers and banning public dinners after sunset as Ramadan begins this week. Many mosques are closed, and vaccines are recommended.

The month of Ramadan begins on Monday for some countries in the Americas and on Tuesday for most of the rest of the world. The exact starting time depends on the visibility of the new crescent moon, with the majority of Muslim countries following Saudi Arabia's sighting of the new moon, which would be on Tuesday.

Ramadan, also spelled Ramazan or Ramzan, is the most important month in the Islamic calendar, when Muslims believe that God revealed the first verses of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad.

In this second year of the pandemic, regulations for Ramadan have had to be adapted.