Muslims Break Fast at Islamic Center of Bangkok

IQNA – Many Muslims in the capital of Thailand go to the Islamic Center of Bangkok in the evening during the holy month of Ramadan to break their fast and say congregational prayers.

The Sheikh-ul-Islam (main religious authority) of Thailand earlier this week announced Tuesday, March 12, as the beginning of Ramadan.

The announcement came after Istihlal (moon sighting) in which the crescent moon of Ramadan was sighted in the Southeast Asian country.

On Tuesday afternoon, a large number of Muslims from different parts of the city went to the Islamic center for the first Iftar of this year’s Ramadan.

In this holy month, all mosques in the country are active and many of them host daily Quran classes and Quran recitation programs.

Thailand is a country at the center of the Indochinese peninsula in Southeast Asia.

Muslims are the second largest religious group in Thailand making up about five percent of the country’s 70 million population.

Islam was first introduced to the Thai people by Sheikh Ahmad Qomi.

He was an Iranian Shia Muslim who promoted Islam in Thailand in the 16th century AD and became the country’s first Sheikh-ul-Islam.

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