With us on Wednesday – the fasting month of Ramadan starts again

In the evening, they traditionally gather with family and friends to break the fast. In Saudi Arabia, which has the holiest places in Islam, this rule is very strictly enforced: restaurants remain closed until the so-called iftar meal at sunset. There, believers gather in mosques, especially at night, to pray. Ramadan starts on Thursday in both Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Islamic religious community: “Becoming aware of blessings”
In Austria, on the other hand, it starts on Wednesday evening, with Thursday being the first day of fasting. The exact date is determined by lunar calculations. “We take many things in our lives for granted, whether it’s the roof over our heads, the heating system that works, the refrigerator full, healthy children or a loving partner. As a month of reflection, Ramadan teaches us to become aware of the many blessings in our lives,” said the president of the Islamic Faith Community in Austria (IGGÖ), Ümit Vural, in a broadcast.

This year’s motto is therefore also “time for gratitude”. The IGGÖ school authority has issued a catalog answering questions that may arise for Muslim schoolchildren and their parents.

About 746,000 Muslims live in Austria (source: Statistics Austria, 2021). They are already the second largest religious community after the Catholics. Many of them come from Turkey, from the Muslim areas of former Yugoslavia, from the Arab and North African regions.