Muslims in Egypt are set to start fasting on Monday to mark the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, the country's Islamic Dar El-Ifta announced on Sunday evening. Ramadan will start on Monday as the crescent moon, by which the start of the Islamic holy month is marked, was not observed on Saturday. On the 29th day of the preceding month, Shaaban, Muslim scholars look for the new crescent in the sky after the sun sets. If they see it, the following day marks the beginning of Ramadan; if not, then Ramadan will commence the day after. The length of Islamic lunar calendar months, the ninth of which is Ramadan, varies between 29 and 30 days. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from drinking and eating from dawn until dusk. Eid Al-Fitr, or "the feast of breaking the fast," is a three-day religious holiday marking the end of Ramadan, which is celebrated by Muslims worldwide.
