Eid al-Fitr Begins Monday in Several Arab States

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The Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr that marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan will begin on Monday in Saudi Arabia and neighboring states.

The religious authorities in the desert kingdom announced on Sunday they had received reports of sightings of the new moon, marking the end of Ramadan.

"Eid al-Fitr will therefore be celebrated from Monday," an official statement said.

Kuwait, Lebanon's Dar al-Fatwa, Qatar, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen have all also said the festival will begin in their countries on Monday.

According to Muslim tradition, it is the sighting with the naked eye of the new moon that signals the start of Eid al-Fitr.

During the fasting month of Ramadan, Muslim believers abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and having sex from dawn until sunset.

Ramadan is sacred to Muslims because it is during that month that tradition says the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.

The fast is one of the five main religious obligations under Islam.

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