All articles tagged with #ramadan
New York City's first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani, publicly observed Ramadan with numerous iftars and prayers, using his faith to shape governance even as he faced Islamophobic attacks, a high-profile ISIS-inspired incident, and controversy over Gaza/Israel commentary and his wife’s past statements, illustrating both political connection to Muslim constituents and vulnerabilities to criticism.
New York City observes its first Ramadan under Mayor Zohran Mamdani, with residents gathering for a predawn suhoor in Brooklyn and highlighting the city’s diverse Muslim life as the year’s holiday unfolds.
Saudi moon spotters have confirmed Eid al-Fitr 2026 for Friday, March 20, marking the end of Ramadan; the date is set by the sighting of the crescent moon in the Islamic calendar, and Californians can expect mosque prayers and community Eid celebrations across Southern California, the Bay Area, and the Central Valley, with times and formats varying by location.
Saudi moon-sighting authorities confirmed Eid al-Fitr 2026 will begin on Friday, March 20, with the Shawwal crescent possibly sighted on March 19–20; Eid marks the start of Shawwal after Ramadan and is celebrated worldwide with prayers, festive meals, greetings of Eid Mubarak, and Zakat al-Fitr donations.
Israeli forces shot and killed four members of a Palestinian family in the West Bank town of Tammun after their car allegedly moved toward troops during a late-night drive home from Nablus, including two adults and two of their children; an 11-year-old survivor described the moment gunfire erupted. Palestinian medics said CCTV footage has not yet been released and health workers were delayed at the scene. The killings occur amid a spike in violence in the area, including settler attacks, drawing UN condemnation over rising civilian harm. The IDF says it is investigating the incident.
Eight Arab and Islamic foreign ministers condemned Israel’s 12-day Ramadan closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, saying the restrictions violate international law and the status quo, and urged Israel to restore access and uphold Muslim worship rights in Jerusalem.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani hosted anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil, his wife and their young son for Ramadan dinner at Gracie Mansion, despite Khalil’s ICE detention and looming deportation tied to a green-card fraud claim; Mamdani hailed Khalil as a symbol of resilience and free speech, while Khalil’s Hamas-supportive remarks drew White House condemnation.
A Southwest Airlines Flight 2094 bound for Fort Lauderdale diverted to Atlanta after the crew cited a misunderstanding of a passenger’s behavior. NBC reports the incident stemmed from a misunderstanding, with the passenger having a timer on his phone to pray for Ramadan; law enforcement boarded the aircraft and the diversion caused significant delays. Southwest apologized for the disruption and emphasized safety.
Israeli settlers defaced and set fire to the Abu Bakr as-Siddiq Mosque near Nablus in the occupied West Bank during Ramadan, with graffiti denigrating the Prophet and claims of attackers fleeing after pouring fuel. The incident follows a broader surge of settler and military violence in the area, drawing UN and rights groups’ warnings about a coercive environment and potential displacement of Palestinians.
A six-decade agreement governing Muslim prayer and Jewish access at Jerusalem's al-Aqsa compound has effectively collapsed under far-right Israeli leadership, with arrests of Muslim Waqf staff, bans on hundreds of worshippers, and police raids during Ramadan, signaling a dangerous shift that could ignite broader tensions in Jerusalem and the Israel-Palestine conflict.
As Ramadan approaches in Cairo, residents decorate homes with arabesque lights and fawanees lanterns, while markets buzz with people buying decor and gifts for evening iftars; once the month begins, the focus shifts to fasting and extended nightly prayers.
The White House issued a Ramadan message highlighting the holy season's themes of spiritual renewal, prayer and charity, reaffirming America's commitment to freedom of religion and the right to worship without fear, and offering prayers for happiness, unity, and peace.
Ramadan 2026 begins around Feb 18–19 with the crescent sighting determining the start. Fasting lasts from dawn to dusk, varying globally from about 12 to 15 hours—shorter in the Northern Hemisphere and longer in southern countries like Chile, New Zealand, and South Africa. A table in the article lists first and last-day fasting times by city, and greetings such as ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ and ‘Ramadan Kareem’ are commonly exchanged.
Three individuals were shot and five arrested at a Ramadan event in West Philadelphia, with a 15-year-old shot by a police officer and a police patrol wagon accidentally striking a child. Police seized four guns from the arrests, and it's unclear what prompted the shooting, though the police commissioner believed two groups exchanged gunfire. Gun safety groups and local officials condemned the violence, with a witness expressing dismay at the prevalence of gun violence at a religious celebration.
A shooting at a Ramadan event in Philadelphia left three people wounded, with five suspects arrested. The incident involved two factions exchanging gunfire in a park where about 1,000 people were gathered. Police recovered five guns and a child was also struck by a police vehicle in the chaos. The shooting occurred near a local mosque holding an event at the time. The Council on American Islamic Relations reported a significant increase in discrimination and hate incidents against Muslims in 2023, with a spike during the Israel-Hamas war.