Ramadan across the world

A street vendor plugs in decorations for Ramadan such as crescents, stars, lanterns and writing that reads in Arabic "Blessed Ramadan," top, in Amman, Jordan, early Friday July 22, 2011. Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, is celebrated as the period when the Quran, Islam's holy book, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad about 1,400 years ago. (AP)
Muslim men and women pray on the first night of Ramadan on July 31, 2011. Like millions of Muslim around the world, Indonesians celebrate the holy month of Ramadan by abstaining from eating and drinking, smoking as well as sexual activities from dawn to dusk. (AFP)
A Pakistani worker cleans the floor of a historical Badshahi mosque in preparation for the upcoming Ramadan in Lahore, Pakistan Sunday, July 31, 2011. Ramadan, the Muslim's holy fasting month, is expected to officially begin Monday or Tuesday in Pakistan, though the timing depends on the alignment of the moon. Muslims usually increase their religious activities during the Ramadan. (AP)
An Imam looks out from the terrace of a mosque minaret to observe the moon at sunset in Amman, Jordan, Saturday July 30, 2011. Jordan's Islamic Justice Department announced that Monday Aug. 1 will be the first day of Ramadan. (AP)
Palestinians shop in the market in preparation for the Muslim fasting holy month of Ramadan, which is set to begin in early August, in the Palestinians West Bank city of Jenin Saturday, July 30, 2011. (AP)
A Pakistani woman receives donated bread at a market ahead of the upcoming Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in Lahore on July 29, 2011. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and conducting sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calender. (AFP)
An Iraqi baker prepares sweets in preparation for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which is set to begin in August, in Basra, 340 miles (550 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, July 28, 2011. (AP)
A resident shops at the Civil Service Consumer Corporation in Amman July 28, 2011, ahead of the fasting month of Ramadan. Muslims around the world abstain from eating, drinking and conducting sexual relations from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. (REUTERS)
Workers count of printed copes of the Koran at a printing press near Sunan Ampel mosque in Surabaya, Indonesia East Java province, July 27, 2011. The demand for the Koran usually increase from 10 thousand to 20 thousand books ahead of the month of Ramadan, according to Suyanto, the owner of the printing press. (REUTERS)
Libyan women bakers prepare pastry and sweets with the colours of the former Libyan flag used by the rebels, at a bakery in the Libyan rebel stronghold city of Benghazi on July 25, 2011. Civil war or not, every year the holy Muslim month of Ramadan must be respected and in Libya's rebel stronghold of Benghazi women bakers are working overtime to meet demand. (AFP)
A Pakistani shoe maker, Hameed, sits inside a giant shoe at his shop in Lahore on July 25, 2011. Hameed has made a six feet (1.83m) shoe with gold thread to attract his customers for an upcoming Muslim festival known as 'eid', the selling price of the shoe is approximately USD 350 (Dh1,285). The 'eid' festival usually takes place at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, which begins in the month of August this year. (AFP)
An Egyptian vendor displays clothes for sale at a street in Cairo, Egypt Wednesday, July 20, 2011. Egyptians are shopping in the streets of Cairo in preparation for the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan beginning early August this year. (AP)
An Egyptian man carrying a child passes by traditional lanterns on display for sale at a street in Cairo, Egypt Monday, July 18, 2011. Egyptians shop for lanterns in preparation for the upcoming Muslims holy month of Ramadan beginning early August this year, to decorate their houses, shops and streets giving Egypt colorful and distinguished nights among the Islamic world. (AP)