Muslims around the world marked the beginning of holy month of Ramadan on Monday.

During Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn until sunset. The fast is intended to bring the faithful closer to God and to remind them of the sufferings of the less fortunate.

For Muslims, Ramadan is the month in which the first verses of the Quran, Islam’s holy book, were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad more than 1,400 years ago.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the Muslim declaration of faith, daily prayer, charity and performing the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.