Emir of Qatar frees prisoners to usher in month of Ramadan

The Emir of Qatar His Highness, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Sunday issued an Amiri gesture pardoning a number of prisoners, as Muslims commence fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.

The move came after the Crescent Sighting Committee at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) announced that Monday, March 11, will be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.

The Committee said that the Ramadan moon was sighted Sunday evening, and accordingly announced that Monday, March 11, will be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.

To welcome the holy month, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, granted freedom to some unspecified number of prisoners to usher in one of the most anticipated months by Muslims around the world.

The month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, lasting for 720 hours, equivalent to four weeks and two days.

During this sacred period, Muslims in every part of the world observe fasting from dawn until sunset, refraining from eating, drinking, smoking, evil thoughts, actions, and marital relations.

This practice is one of the five pillars of Islam, emphasizing spiritual discipline, empathy, and compassion.

The commencement of Ramadan is not uniform across the globe due to the Islamic calendar’s lunar cycle.

Despite this, it offers a golden opportunity for spiritual growth, community engagement, and acts of kindness as believers embark on a journey of self-discipline and connection with their faith.