Muslims in Oxford and around the world will start to abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset as the holy fasting month of Ramadan begins.

Officials saw the crescent moon on Sunday night in Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites in Islam, marking the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan for many of the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims.

The sacred month, which sees those observing abstain from food and water from dawn to sunset, marks a period of religious reflection, family get-togethers and giving across the Muslim world.

Seeing the moon on Sunday night means today (Monday, March 11) is the first day of the fast.

During Ramadan, those observing typically break their fast with a date and water, following the tradition set by the Prophet Mohammed.

Then they will enjoy an iftar, or a large meal.

They will have a pre-dawn meal, or suhoor, to sustain themselves during the daylight hours.

Ahmed Qazi, a former Imam at Madina Masjid Oxford and now a Muslim chaplain for prisons in the county, said: “The majority of Muslims who are healthy and fit start to fast today.

“It means we do not eat or drink and married couples cannot have sexual relations during the daylight hours.

“The fast begins at 4:30am to about 6pm, so around 12 to 13 hours in which people fulfil one of the five pillars of Islam to bring themselves closer to God.”

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar; the month cycles through the seasons and the months in the Gregorian calendar.

Mr Qazi added as well as the spiritual benefits of fasting, there are other benefits too.

He said: “The hunger and thirst show how the less fortunate people around the world feel.

"People who don’t have food in this day and age, how do we feel about them and what can we don for them?  

"The sharing and caring concept is revived through fasting.

“In terms of health benefits, I’m sure doctors are also encouraging fasting for diet controls.

“It is not just a diet control but it is a concept of worship.

“In terms of community in Oxford, the spirit of sharing is revived, through the sharing of the food and drinks around during the sunset meal and even for those who are homeless and need who may not be fasting or even perhaps Muslim. “

In Saudi Arabia, the kingdom had been urging the public to watch the skies from Sunday night in preparation for the sighting of the crescent moon.

Ramadan works on a lunar calendar and moon-sighting methodologies often vary between countries, meaning some nations declare the start of the month earlier or later.