Hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world began the annual spiritual ascent of the Ramadan month on Monday, marked with fasting, prayers, charity and the reciting of the Koran.

“We believe the fasting is not only for us, but also for those who were before us, for the Jews, Christians, and any believer,” Acre Imam Sheikh Samir Assi said on Sunday. “It was in this month that God gave us the Koran, and we thank him for it and fast.”

One of the commandments observed more closely during the month is giving charity, called the Zakaat al-Fitr. “Everyone must give it, even those who haven’t fasted,”.

Since the Ramadan is the month of the Koran, special emphasis is given to reading it in this time. There is also the Tarawih prayer recited in the mosques after the evening prayer during the days of the fast.

What makes this month special,“is the fact that the mosques are full of people praying. Even Muslims who normally do not attend prayers will show up, become penitent, and pray. If you enter a mosque at night during this month, you will see it’s full.”

Observed by Muslims around the world, Ramadan comes 11 days earlier each year because the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle.

At night, after a long prayer, Muslims drink and share a meal, often with friends and relatives.

Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which also include belief in God, daily prayers, giving to the poor and a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia at least once in a lifetime.