Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — The Saudi Supreme Legal Council announced Sunday that the Ramadan month, the 9th of the Islamic Lunar calendar of the Hegira, will start Monday, marking the beginning of the month-long fasting by Moslems.

The Lunar Crescent Monitoring Committee in the Ministry of Justice of the United Arab Emirates and the Grand Mufti of Egypt, have also made a similar announcement.

During the Ramadan or fasting period, many Moslems offer "Zakat," alms or Islamic tithe, to the needy.

Fasting, which starts at dawn and is broken at dusk, is mandatory for all Moslems in good health and with the means to feed themselves. It is one of the five pillars of Islam.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women, travellers, the military on the battle front, among others, are however, exempted from the obligation, which may be postponed or replaced by offerings to the needy.

Ramadan, which designates the 9th month of the Hegira year, the departure of prophet Muhammad on exile, comes from the Arabic "Ramada," which means "extremely hot".