A religious committee formed by Egypt's Dar El-Ifta announced that the Islamic holy month of Ramadan will start on Thursday. The beginning of the month is determined by the Islamic institution upon the sighting of the crescent. It's the 9th of month of the Hijri calendar (the basis of the Islamic calendar) during which Muslims abstain from drinking and eating from dawn to dusk. According to Islam, this month is dedicated to prayers, as it is believed that it is an occasion to wash ones sins away and enjoy the unlimited mercy from hevens.