May Allah accept our prayers and fast - Najib

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak hopes Allah the Almighty will accept the prayers and fast of Muslims in Malaysia during Ramadan.

"Alhamdulillah, today is our first day of fasting this year. May our prayers and fast during Ramadan be accepted by Allah SWT, Insya-Allah," said the prime minister in his Twitter and Facebook postings tonight.

In the posting and tweet, Najib also spoke of the privileges of fasting during Ramadan by quoting a hadith.

"Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven." - Prophet Muhammad in the Hadith of Bukhari.

The 2016 Ramadan fasting month started today for all states in Malaysia.

It was announced officially by the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, Datuk Seri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad yesterday and broadcast 'live' over radio and television.