The nation observed Jumatul Wida – the last Friday of the holy month of Ramazan – with religious fervour and solemnity across Pakistan today.

Millions of fasting people offered Friday prayers at mosques and prayer grounds. Jumatul Wida has a special significance since it is a prelude to the departure of holy month of Ramazan and is considered the harbinger of the end of the showering of divine blessings that characterize the holy month. Holy Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) also stressed the sanctity of this day.   FULL ARTICLE LINK

Muslim leaders called for peaceful dialogue in resolving the Mindanao conflict as Filipino Muslims prepare for the end of Ramadan.

Muslim clerics and politicians reiterated their preference for the peace process even if it were stalled by serious disagreements on the setting up of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity in Mindanao.

Ramadan fasting could end on its 29th day if the crescent moon were sighted on Monday, the Dharul Ifta (House of Opinion) said Sunday.   FULL ARTICLE LINK

The majestic citadel atop Syria's ancient city of Aleppo, the Masyaf fortress of the sinister order of the Assassins and the castle of Arab conqueror Saladdin have all been given a new lease on life as part of a project by the Aga Khan to promote Islamic sites.

"We don't do enough to illustrate to the peoples of our world the greatness of Islamic civilisations," the 71-year-old billionaire spiritual leader of the world's 15 million Shia Ismaili Muslims told AFP in an interview.   FULL ARTICLE LINK

''Start the month of fasting when you see the half moon and end it when you see the (new) half moon. If you cannot see it, because of the clouds, for example, count thirty days''.

The indications of the Prophet Mohammed to begin the Ramadan seem to be clear and simple, but like every year, the 'Umma', the Muslim community, is divided and the different Arab countries start the holy month of Ramadan on different days.   FULL ARTICLE LINK

In sync with the sun and the moon, the traditions of 1,400 years and the acts of Muslims all over the world, members of one of Egypt's seven official moon-sighting committees pulled into a parking lot high on a ridge overlooking hazy Cairo at sunset Saturday.

There were government astronomers in open-neck shirts, snapping open tripods to support their telescopes. Taking a preliminary look through the scopes at Cairo's western horizon, the astronomers didn't bother to announce what they saw at first glance: nothing.   FULL ARTICLE LINK

Publisher Random House has pulled a novel about the Prophet Mohammed's child bride, fearing it could "incite acts of violence."

"The Jewel of Medina," a debut novel by journalist Sherry Jones, 46, was due to be published on August 12 by Random House, a unit of Bertelsmann AG, and an eight-city publicity tour had been scheduled, Jones told Reuters on Thursday.

The novel traces the life of A'isha from her engagement to Mohammed, when she was six, until the prophet's death. Jones said that she was shocked to learn in May, that publication would be postponed indefinitely.

"I have deliberately and consciously written respectfully about Islam and Mohammed ... I envisioned that my book would be a bridge-builder," said Jones.

Random House deputy publisher Thomas Perry said in a statement the company received "cautionary advice not only that the publication of this book might be offensive to some in the Muslim community, but also that it could incite acts of violence by a small, radical segment."   FULL ARTICLE LINK

The case started quietly, when a Muslim woman who sheaths herself in a head-to-toe veil was denied French citizenship because she had not assimilated enough into this society. France's highest body upheld the decision, and politicians across the spectrum agreed it was the right move.

A few dissenting voices, though, are now questioning whether the decision pushed France's secularist values too far.   FULL ARTICLE LINK

The Senate on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the publication of blasphemous cartoons in some European countries and the release of an anti-Islam documentary by a Dutch parliamentarian. It urged the United Nations to put an end to activities against Islam and ensure respect for all religions.

The resolution said that the sacrilegious acts had hurt the sentiments of Muslims and violated international laws, including the UN Charter, and also laws of the countries where the sacrilege had been committed.   FULL ARTICLE LINK

Thousands of Pakistani women rallied here Saturday to protest against Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed and a Dutch film said to insult Islam, witnesses said.

The women shouted "death to Denmark and death to Netherlands," as they marched about a kilometre (less than a mile) on a busy street.   FULL ARTICLE LINK

The Muslim world has created a battle plan to defend its religion from political cartoonists and bigots.

Concerned about what they see as a rise in the defamation of Islam, leaders of the world's Muslim nations are considering taking legal action against those that slight their religion or its sacred symbols. It was a key issue during a two-day summit that ended Friday in this western Africa capital.

The Muslim leaders are attempting to demand redress from nations like Denmark, which allowed the publication of cartoons portraying the Prophet Muhammad in 2006 and again last month, to the fury of the Muslim world.   FULL ARTICLE LINK