Friday, February 28 marked the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The tradition is observed by praying during the night time and abstaining from eating, drinking, and sexual acts from sunrise to sunset. The Ramadan fast is one of the five pillars of Islam.

The ninth month in the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is the month in which the prophet Mohammed received the first of the revelations that make up the Quran.

Ramadan’s weeks of spiritual introspection build toward Laylat al-Qadr, or the “Night of Power,” believed to be the holiest night of the year. The Quran describes this singular evening of worship as “better than a thousand months.”

A man attends the nightly prayer at Abu Hanifa Mosque in Baghdad, Iraq, on Friday.
A man attends the nightly prayer at Abu Hanifa Mosque in Baghdad, Iraq, on Friday.
Murtadha Al-Sudani/Anadolu/Getty Images
People pray while visiting their relative's grave, part of a local tradition ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Jakarta, Indonesia.
People pray while visiting their relative's grave, part of a local tradition ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Willy Kurniawan/Reuters
A girl offers first Tarawih prayers at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.
A girl offers first Tarawih prayers at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.
Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images
Men look for the first crescent of the moon, which marks the start of Ramadan, in Hautat Sudair, Saudi Arabia.
Men look for the first crescent of the moon, which marks the start of Ramadan, in Hautat Sudair, Saudi Arabia.
Haitham el-Tabei/AFP/Getty Images
The first Ramadan cannon is fired following the evening prayer at the Yellow Fortress in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Friday.
The first Ramadan cannon is fired following the evening prayer at the Yellow Fortress in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Friday.
Samir Jordamovic/Anadolu/Getty Images
Holiday lights decorate a doorway near the Dome of the Rock Mosque in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.
Holiday lights decorate a doorway near the Dome of the Rock Mosque in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.
Mahmoud Illean/AP
Worshippers pray inside the Abdulkarim Satuq Bughra Khan Mosque, during the start of Ramadan in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Worshippers pray inside the Abdulkarim Satuq Bughra Khan Mosque, during the start of Ramadan in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Vyacheslav/AFP/Getty Images
A man prays at Mevlana Mosque in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
A man prays at Mevlana Mosque in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Robin Utrecht/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/
A worker cleans a historical Sunehri Mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan, in preparation for the start of Ramadan on Friday.
A worker cleans a historical Sunehri Mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan, in preparation for the start of Ramadan on Friday.
Muhammad Sajjad/AP
Palestinians take part in the Tarawih prayer in Gaza City.
Palestinians take part in the Tarawih prayer in Gaza City.
Abdel Kareem Hana/AP
Two women take a selfie before performing the first Tarawih prayers of Ramadan at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Two women take a selfie before performing the first Tarawih prayers of Ramadan at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Afriadi Hikmal/NurPhoto/Getty Images
An officer of Malaysia's Islamic Authority looks for the new moon, which signals the start of Ramadan, in Putrajaya, Malaysia.
An officer of Malaysia's Islamic Authority looks for the new moon, which signals the start of Ramadan, in Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters
Palestinians take part in the first pre-dawn meal of Ramadan, under lights hung among buildings in Khan Yunis, Gaza that were heavily damaged by Israeli attacks.
Palestinians take part in the first pre-dawn meal of Ramadan, under lights hung among buildings in Khan Yunis, Gaza that were heavily damaged by Israeli attacks.
Ali Jadallah/Anadolu/Getty Images