Last minute preparations are underway as Muslims around the world stocked up on groceries and dates Wednesday for evening meals to break dawn-to-dusk fasting during the month of Ramadan. Saudi Arabia and other Muslim-majority nations, like Egypt and Indonesia, declared Ramadan would begin Thursday based on a moon-sighting methodology. Muslims follow a lunar calendar, and a moon-sighting methodology can lead to different countries declaring the start of Ramadan a day or two apart. Some mosques in the U.S. already declared the start of fasting Wednesday while others will begin Thursday. While fasting, Muslims must also abstain from sex, gossip and cursing.

Source: ABC News May 16, 2018 09:00 UTC