Sunday evening marked the first night of the holy month of Ramadan, a time of self-reflection during which Muslims around the globe fast from sunrise to sunset - but in the wake of the Christchurch mosque attacks, some Australian Muslims are taking extra security precautions.
Sri Lanka, the site of a deadly 21 April attack, is also on high alert and is now actively rounding Islamists as intelligence indicates there may be more attacks to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan.
Intelligence services have warned more strikes could be planned in theand Ramadan celebrations are set to be subdued as Muslims move into the holy month.
Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena said his security forces would "eradicate terrorism" following devastating suicide attacks on Easter Sunday and restore stability before a presidential election due by year-end.
President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena has vowed to stamp out extremism. Source: AP
"Elections cannot be postponed, therefore before the elections I will bring about stability and I will eradicate terrorism," he said.
"We have already identified all active members of the group and it's a case of now arresting them."
Sri Lankan security forces stand guard while Muslim people queue up for security checking before enter the Friday prayers. Source: AP
Sri Lankan security services believe there’s a further 25-30 “active members” linked to the bombing, who are still at large.
In Australia, there’s less of a risk – but the Muslim community is on high alert in the wake of the Christchurch mosque attack.
Sydney Muslims read the Koran ahead of Ramadan. Source: SBS News
Muslim community leaders said many mosques have organised their own security ahead of Ramadan.
“People should be able to attend their places of worship with absolute security and peace of mind,” Australian National Imams Council spokesperson Bilal Rauf said.
He said leaders are urging Muslims to use the holy month to share their experience of Ramadan to promote tolerance and understanding in the wider community.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar. During Ramadan, observant Muslims abstain from
Fasting is an exercise in self-restraint, aimed at making the rich experience the suffering of the less unfortunate.
Children, the elderly, ill people and women who are pregnant or menstruating are exempted from fasting on health grounds.
Australian National Imams Council spokesperson Bilal Rauf urged the faithful to use the holy month as a time of reflection. Source: SBS News
Fasting is one of Islam's five pillars, alongside: declaration of faith; prayer five times a day; alms-giving; and the pilgrimage to holy sites in Saudi Arabia.
During Ramadan, Muslims are exhorted to intensely worship and read Islam's holy book, the Koran, to experience spiritual renewal.
The month is also marked by a special nightly prayer called "taraweeh."
Ramadan is particularly significant to Muslims because it was the month when the first verses of Koran were revealed to the Prophet Mohammed in the 7th century AD.
Charity street banquets, hosted by benefactors for the poor, are a traditional feature of Ramadan in several Muslim countries.
In mostly Muslim Egypt, festive lanterns and colourful street decorations are age-old traditions celebrating the month's advent.
Sri Lankan muslims attend the main Friday prayers in a Mosque in Colombo. Source: AP
In recent years, Ramadan has become the peak month for television entertainment in the Arab world where many people have the habit of staying up awake until they eat the pre-dawn meal before they start a new day of fasting.
Lavish and star-studded television shows and soap operas are usually broadcast in Ramadan, much to the chagrin of conservative Muslim clerics.
Ramadan is followed by the three-day Eid al-Fitr festival, which marks the end of fasting.
