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TEHRAN, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Millions of Iranian Muslims started observing the codes of the holy month of Ramadan across the country on Tuesday.
Based on the teachings of Islam, they would care primarily for two major duties of the Muslims during Ramadan, namely, to avoid certain sins and to abstain from eating and drinking in private or in public spheres from dawn to dusk.
In addition, Ramadan for Muslims in general is a period of spiritual causes, including prayers, charity activities, self and collective restraint.
From the first day of Ramadan in Iran, some people start reciting the holy Quran with the aim of completing the entire sacred text by the end of the month. The activity is usually done hours before breaking the fast in the evenings or before starting to fast at dawn.
Regularly, in an Iranian household, the woman of the house gets up before the sunrise, prepares rich and nutritious food for the family members. The citation of Athan (or the call to Muslims ritual prayer) on TV or from the loudspeakers of the mosques before the sunrise is the sign of refrain from food and drink.
In the same manner, the citation of Athan at the sunset is a signal for the end of fasting period on the day and beginning to "Iftar" or to break the fast.
Since the meal time, or lunch, is cleared from the working hours during the daytime, many businesses and state organizations amend their working hours.
Communal brief meals in public, or ceremonial meals in private homes are available in the Iranian cities or villages in the evenings of Ramadan.
Fasting is not obligatory for young children and patients based on the principles of Fiqh or Islamic code.
The month of Ramadan begins with a new moon sighting, marking the start of the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. Ramadan ends when the first crescent of the new moon is sighted again, marking another lunar month's start.
