Ramadan 2010 Begins

In Indonesia, South-east Asia and most of the Middle-East, Muslims have already begun observing Ramadan. And Ramadan will begin in North America tonight (August 10) with the sighting of the new moon. For the next 30 days, Muslims will abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and having sex from dawn to dusk. They will spend most of their free time in quiet reflection, reading the Quran and in prayer.

Take a look at some pictures compiled by various news agencies of Muslims preparing for Ramadan.


Ramadan 2010 Sights in Pictures


An Egyptian vendor prepares the display of traditional lanterns for sale at his shop in Cairo, Egypt Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010, in preparation for the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan beginning around the middle of August.
(AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)


Palestinian children hold lanterns displayed at a market as part of preparations for the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on August 7, 2010. The start of Ramadan, the ninth and holiest month in the Muslim calendar, is traditionally determined by the sighting of a new moon.
(SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images)


Indonesian Muslim students perform during a rally for Ramadan in Jakarta, Indonesia Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010. Ramadan, the holy fasting month, is expected to begin on Wednesday, Aug . 11. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation.
(AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)


Indonesian Muslim students march during a rally for Ramadan in Jakarta, Indonesia Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010. Ramadan, the holy fasting month, is expected to begin on Wednesday, Aug. 11. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation.
(AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)


An Egyptian worker carries a handmade lantern, used during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, at a workshop in downtown Cairo on August 7, 2010.
(KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)


Traditional sailing boats known as 'feluccas' are decorated for the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan in the Nile river in Cairo on August 7, 2010.
(KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)


A Palestinian man arranges neon lights and other decorations for the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan at his store in the northern city of Jenin, in the West Bank, on August 8, 2010. The start of Ramadan, the ninth and holiest month in the Muslim calendar, is traditionally determined by the sighting of a new moon.
(SAIF DAHLAH/AFP/Getty Images)


A Lebanese Muslim man decorates the outside of his shop with the Islamic symbols of the crescent and the star in preparation for the celebration of the upcoming Islamic holy month of Ramadan, in Beirut, Lebanon, on Monday, Aug. 9, 2010.
(AP Photo / Hussein Malla)


A Lebanese worker hangs a decoration banner that reads "Happy Ramadan" for the celebration of the upcoming Islamic holy month of Ramadan at an Arab bank window, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, on Monday Aug. 9, 2010.
(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)


A Palestinian woman buys sweets ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at a market in the West Bank city of Jenin, Tuesday, Aug, 10, 2010. Muslims throughout the world will celebrate the holy fasting month of Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar which will start on Wednesday, refraining from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset.
(AP Photo/Mohammed Ballas).


A Bahraini man points skyward at dusk Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010, in Hamad Town, Bahrain, towards where a slim crescent moon should be visible to indicate the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a time of prayer, fasting and charitable giving. Clouds hampered skywatchers in the Persian Gulf island nation.
(AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)


Indonesian Muslims offer an evening prayer called 'Tarawih' at the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010.
(AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)


Indonesia Muslim women offer an evening prayer called 'Tarawih' at the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2010.
(AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)