Over 5,000 Malaysians join millions of Muslims for fasting in Holy Land

It is estimated over 5,000 Malaysians will join millions of other Muslims for fasting in the Holy Land of Makkah and Madinah throughout Ramadan this year.

The Saudi Arabia government on Friday announced that Ramadan will begin from Sunday, simultaneously to that in Malaysia.

According to a Tabung Haji source, over 5,000 Malaysians would be in the Holy Land of Makkah to perform the umrah throughout the month of Ramadan besides observing the fast to seek God's blessing.

Muslims in Makkah and Madinah will also observe the terawih prayers which starts on Saturday night.

In the Holy Land of Makkah and Madinah, Muslims will start fasting from as early as 4 am (during dawn) until 7 pm (during dusk).

The temperature in these two Holy Land is approximately between 40 degrees Celcius and can reach up to 48 degrees Celcius.

Several Malaysians when met here expressed their gratitude for being able to observe fasting in the Holy Land.

For Mohd Shah Che Ahmad 26, from Kuala Lumpur, his opportunity to observe the fasting month in the Holy Land for the first time was very meaningful for him in order to be closer to God.

He is scheduled to perform the umrah tomorrow, two days after his pilgrimage to the Madinah Holy Land.

"My wish to observe fasting in the Holy Land is finally realised and I pray that I will be able to fulfil this obligation with full of blessings," he said.

Meanwhile another Malaysian, who would be performing the umrah, Johari Ramli, 44, said he would pray that his wife, family and friends would also have the opportunity to observe fasting in the Holy Land.