![Muslims attend the first Friday prayer during holy month Ramadan at Eyup Sultan Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey on 18 May, 2018 [Orhan Akkanat/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/20180518_2_30442953_33856681.jpg?w=668&h=1002&ssl=1 "First Friday Prayer at Eyup Sultan Mosque")
Muslims attend the first Friday prayer during holy month Ramadan at Eyup Sultan Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey on 18 May, 2018 [Orhan Akkanat/Anadolu Agency]
![A drone photo shows a view of Sultanahmet Mosque during an iftar program organised by Fatih Municipality at Sultanahmet Square on the first day of holy month of Ramadan in Istanbul, Turkey on 16 May, 2018 [Muhammed Enes Yıldırım/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/20180516_2_30414636_33811717.jpg?w=524&h=295&ssl=1 "Iftar dinner at the Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul")
A drone photo shows a view of Sultanahmet Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey on 16 May, 2018 [Muhammed Enes Yıldırım/Anadolu Agency]
![Animators entertain people attending the iftar dinner organised by Fatih Municipality at Sultanahmet Square on the first day of holy month of Ramadan in Istanbul, Turkey on 16 May, 2018 [Muhammed Enes Yıldırım/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/20180516_2_30414636_33811719.jpg?w=524&h=350&ssl=1 "Iftar dinner at the Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul")
Animators entertain people attending the iftar dinner organised by Fatih Municipality at Sultanahmet Square on the first day of holy month of Ramadan in Istanbul, Turkey on 16 May, 2018 [Muhammed Enes Yıldırım/Anadolu Agency]
A Palestinian girl Nariman Abu Obaid, 21, uses strings to embroidery on wood as she manufactures traditional lanterns known in Arabic as “Fanous” on the holy month of Ramadan in Deir Al Balah in the center of Gaza Strip, on 17 May, 2018 [Mahmoud Khattab/Apaimages]
![Turkish soldiers break their fast on the first day of Holy month of Ramadan at the high-altitude base in Mount Balkaya in Semdinli district of Hakkari, Turkey on 16 May, 2018 [Özkan Bilgin/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/20180516_2_30413194_33808633.jpg?w=512&h=342&ssl=1 "First iftar dinner by soldiers at the border")
Turkish soldiers break their fast on the first day of Holy month of Ramadan at the high-altitude base in Mount Balkaya in Semdinli district of Hakkari, Turkey on 16 May, 2018 [Özkan Bilgin/Anadolu Agency]
![Palestinians buy their needs at a market ahead of the holy month of Ramadan in Khan Yunis, Gaza on 16 May, 2018 [Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/20180516_2_30415658_33813815.jpg?w=512&h=341&ssl=1 "Preparations of Holy Month of Ramadan in Gaza")
Palestinians buy their needs at a market ahead of the holy month of Ramadan in Khan Yunis, Gaza on 16 May, 2018 [Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu Agency]
![Palestinian artists paint a mural, in Gaza city, on 16 May, 2018 [Mahmoud Ajour/Apaimages]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/160518_MJ_00-8.jpg?w=512&h=328&ssl=1 "Palestinian artists paint a mural, in Gaza city")
Palestinian artists paint a mural, in Gaza city, on 16 May, 2018 [Mahmoud Ajour/Apaimages]
![A view of Hirka-i Serif, a mantle which is one of the major relics left to Veysel Karani upon will of Prophet Muhammed at the Hirka-i Serif Mosque after it was opened to visit on the first Friday prayers of Ramadan month in Fatih neighborhood of Istanbul, Turkey on 18 May, 2018 [İsa Terli/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/20180518_2_30439730_33851258.jpg?w=680&h=1019&ssl=1 "Hirka-i Serif opened to visit in Istanbul")
A view of Hirka-i Serif, a mantle which is one of the major relics left to Veysel Karani upon will of Prophet Muhammed at the Hirka-i Serif Mosque after it was opened to visit on the first Friday prayers of Ramadan month in Fatih neighborhood of Istanbul, Turkey on 18 May, 2018 [İsa Terli/Anadolu Agency]
![A Palestinian farmer carries wheat and straw bundles as he works on a farm land despite Israel's assaults on farm fields near the border and increasing water depletion in Gaza City, Gaza on 16 May, 2018 [Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/20180517_2_30419109_33819405.jpg?w=801&h=534&ssl=1 "Wheat harvest in Gaza")
A Palestinian farmer carries wheat and straw bundles as he works on a farm land despite Israel’s assaults on farm fields near the border and increasing water depletion in Gaza City, Gaza on 16 May, 2018 [Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu Agency]
![A boy performs Poi fire spinning during holy month Ramadan in Gaza City, Gaza on 16 May, 2018 [Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/20180516_2_30415595_33813694.jpg?w=391&h=261&ssl=1 "Ramadan in Gaza")
A boy performs Poi fire spinning during holy month Ramadan in Gaza City, Gaza on 16 May, 2018 [Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu Agency]
![Muslims recites from the Holy Quran before performing the first 'Tarawih' prayer on the eve of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan at the Lalla Sokaina Mosque in Rabat, Morocco on 16 May, 2018 [Jalal Morchidi/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/20180517_2_30416656_33816219.jpg?w=391&h=269&ssl=1 "First Tarawih Prayer in Morocco")
Muslims recites from the Holy Quran before performing the first ‘Tarawih’ prayer on the eve of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan at the Lalla Sokaina Mosque in Rabat, Morocco on 16 May, 2018 [Jalal Morchidi/Anadolu Agency]
Muslim devotees read the Koran to keep recitation and response (“mukabele”) tradition, which is carried on after Dawn Midday Prayers, alive at Somuncu Baba Mosque in Darende district of Malatya, Turkey on 18 May, 2018 [Ayhan İşcen/Anadolu Agency]