In pictures: Ramadan in South Africa and around the world

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and it is believed that the revelation of the first verse in Koran was during its last 10 nights.

A Syrian man adjusts decorations for the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Clock Square in Syria’s rebel-held northwestern city of Idlib, on April 12, 2021. (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP)

Worshipers in South Africa spent the first night of Ramadan in Tarawih prayers as they mark the beginning of the holy month at the Nizamiye Mosque in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and it is believed that the revelation of the first verse in the Koran was during its last 10 nights.

The mosque is a copy of the ‘Blue Mosque’ in Istanbul and was built by Turkish businessman Ali Katircioglu. The mosque claims to be the biggest in the southern hemisphere.

Ramadan in South Africa:

: Worshipers pray as they mark the beginning of Ramadan at the Nizamiye Mosque in Johannesburg, South Africa, 13 April 2021. Muslims around the world celebrate the holy month of Ramadan by praying during the night time and abstaining from eating, drinking, and sexual acts during the period between sunrise and sunset. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and it is believed that the revelation of the first verse in Koran was during its last 10 nights. The mosque is a copy of the ‘Blue Mosque’ in Istanbul and was build by a Turkish businessman Ali Katircioglu. The mosque claims to be the biggest in the southern hemisphere. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

: Worshipers pray as they mark the beginning of Ramadan at the Nizamiye Mosque in Johannesburg, South Africa, 13 April 2021. Muslims around the world celebrate the holy month of Ramadan by praying during the night time and abstaining from eating, drinking, and sexual acts during the period between sunrise and sunset. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and it is believed that the revelation of the first verse in Koran was during its last 10 nights. The mosque is a copy of the ‘Blue Mosque’ in Istanbul and was build by a Turkish businessman Ali Katircioglu. The mosque claims to be the biggest in the southern hemisphere. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

: A worshipper prays as he marks the beginning of Ramadan at the Nizamiye Mosque in Johannesburg, South Africa, 13 April 2021. Picture: EPA-EFE/Kim Ludbrook

: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 12: Head of the Crescent Observers Society (COS) Imam Yusuf Pandy and Muslim clergy gather for the annual sighting of the moon at Three Anchor Bay on April 12, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. The sighting of the moon marks the month of Ramadan which marks the onset of fasting among Muslims across the world. The moon was not seen so the fast will start on Wednesday. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)

: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 12: The Crescent Observers Society (COS) and Muslim clergy gather for the annual sighting of the moon at Three Anchor Bay on April 12, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. The sighting of the moon marks the month of Ramadan which marks the onset of fasting among Muslims across the world. The moon was not seen so the fast will start on Wednesday. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)

: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 12: The Crescent Observers Society (COS) and Muslim clergy gather for the annual sighting of the moon at Three Anchor Bay on April 12, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. The sighting of the moon marks the month of Ramadan which marks the onset of fasting among Muslims across the world. The moon was not seen so the fast will start on Wednesday. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)

Muslims around the world observe the holy month of Ramadan by praying during the night time and abstaining from eating, drinking, and sexual acts during the period between sunrise and sunset.

Ramadan around the world

: People shop at a market on the eve of the first day of Ramadan, in Cairo, Egypt, 12 April 2021 (Issued 13 April 2021). Muslims around the world celebrate the holy month of Ramadan by praying during the night time and abstaining from eating, drinking, and sexual acts during the period between sunrise and sunset. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and it is believed that the revelation of the first verse in Koran was during its last 10 nights. EPA-EFE/Mohamed Hossam

: A child reads and memorizes the Koran during Ramadan at a mosque in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, 13 April 2021. Muslims around the world celebrate the holy month of Ramadan by praying during the night time and abstaining from eating, drinking, and sexual acts during the period between sunrise and sunset. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and it is believed that the revelation of the first verse in Koran was during its last 12 nights EPA-EFE/HOTLI SIMANJUNTAK

: The sandals of Indonesian muslim students sit outside a class room at the Sirajussa’adah Boarding School in Depok, West Java, Indonesia, 13 April 2021. Muslims around the world celebrate the holy month of Ramadan by praying during the night time and abstaining from eating, drinking, and sexual acts during the period between sunrise and sunset. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and it is believed that the revelation of the first verse in Koran was during its last 10 nights. EPA-EFE/Bagus Indahono

: A Muslim man prays at midday at an indoor basketball court in Marikina City, Metro Manila, Philippines 13 April 2021. Muslims around the world celebrate the holy month of Ramadan by praying during the night time and abstaining from eating, drinking, and sexual acts during the period between sunrise and sunset. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and it is believed that the revelation of the first verse in Koran was during its last 10 nights. EPA-EFE/ROLEX DELA PENA

: A Yemeni woman in traditional attires walks past a mosque on the eve of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in the old city of Sana’a, Yemen, 12 April 2021. Muslims around the world celebrate the holy month of Ramadan by praying during the night time and abstaining from eating, drinking, and sexual acts during the period between sunrise and sunset. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and it is believed that the revelation of the first verse in Koran was during its last 10 nights. EPA-EFE/YAHYA ARHAB

: Workers prepare vermicelli which is used in a traditional sweet dish popularly consumed during the holy month of Ramadan at a factory in Allahabad on April 13, 2021. (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP)

: Muslims rest after praying during the holy month of Ramadan at Al Makmur mosque in Banda Aceh on April 13, 2021. (Photo by CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN / AFP)

: Volunteers hand out toys to children during a celebration hosted by a local cultural NGO in the old town of Iraq’s northern city of Mosul on April 13, 2021 on the first night of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. (Photo by Zaid AL-OBEIDI / AFP)

: A Syrian man adjusts decorations for the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Clock Square in Syria’s rebel-held northwestern city of Idlib, on April 12, 2021. (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP)

: Picture for illustrative purposes: Said Khatib/AFP

: This long exposure picture taken on April 13, 2021 on the first night of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in the old town of Iraq’s northern city of Mosul shows children dancing around a lantern during a street celebration hosted by a local cultural NGO. (Photo by Zaid AL-OBEIDI / AFP)

: This picture taken on April 12, 2021 shows a view of a lit decoration showing a crescent moon inlaid inside a five-pointed star bearing calligraphic text in Arabic reading “Ramadan Mubarak”, placed in the City Walk district of Dubai, with the Burj Khalikfa skyscraper in the background, at the start of the first night of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP)

: A man cycles along a roundabout near a mosque in Gaza City on April 12, 2021, before the first sunset marking the start of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP)

: People shop at a market on the eve of the first day of Ramadan, in Cairo, Egypt, 12 April 2021 (Issued 13 April 2021). Muslims around the world celebrate the holy month of Ramadan by praying during the night time and abstaining from eating, drinking, and sexual acts during the period between sunrise and sunset. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and it is believed that the revelation of the first verse in Koran was during its last 10 nights. EPA-EFE/Mohamed Hossam