Egypt’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Nazir Ayad has denounced a fatwa issued by the Qatar-based International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) calling for jihad against Israel, labeling it “irresponsible” and a violation of Sharia principles. The fatwa urged all able Muslims to take up arms and demanded immediate military, political, and economic action from Muslim countries. Ayad stressed that only legitimate state authorities have the mandate to declare war.

According to CEO Engineer Ghazi Al-Shahrani, a total of 122,286,712 visitors gathered at Mecca’s Grand Mosque and Medina’s Prophet’s Mosque during Ramadan. Among them, 16,558,241 performed Umrah, while 92,132,169 worshippers visited Mecca’s Grand Mosque, and 30,154,543 visited the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. Al-Shahrani extended Eid greetings and expressed gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their service to pilgrims.

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, has begun his Itikaf in the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan. He will continue his spiritual retreat until the sighting of the Eid moon. If Ramadan consists of 29 days, his Itikaf will end on the 30th; if it extends to 30 days, he will observe Itikaf until the 31st.

Itikaf is a period of spiritual seclusion where Muslims dedicate themselves solely to worship and remembrance of Allah, refraining from worldly affairs during the final days of Ramadan.

Despite strict Israeli restrictions, thousands of Palestinians performed the first Taraweeh prayers of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday evening. Israeli forces reportedly harassed and intimidated children, conducted searches, and restricted worshippers from entering the mosque. Men under 55 and women under 50 were barred from entering. Additionally, recently released Palestinian detainees were also denied access. These restrictions appear to be aimed at limiting Palestinian presence in Al-Aqsa during the holy month of Ramadan.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau extended his greetings to Muslims on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan. In a post on social media platform X on Friday night, he wrote, “As the sun sets, Muslims in Canada and around the world begin the holy month of Ramadan. To those who are praying and breaking their fast with family and friends, I send my best wishes.”

With the sighting of the Ramadan moon, fasting began on March 1 in Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, and most Muslim-majority countries, including Australia and Indonesia. However, in regions where the moon was not sighted, fasting will begin a day later.

The French government has officially recognized Imamate as a profession and included it in the country’s employment list. The announcement was made by France’s Interior Minister during the closing session of the French Islam Forum, a government initiative aimed at improving relations between the state and representatives of the Muslim community. This recognition establishes Imamate as a structured and legitimate profession within France.

The Farazi Movement, led by Haji Shariatullah in 1818, holds significant relevance in today’s religious, social, and political contexts. It aimed to revive Islamic duties and protect against superstitions, religious distortions, and exploitation by landlords. The movement, which gained momentum in Bengal and Assam, emphasized unity among Muslims, promoted religious reforms, and stood against British colonial exploitation. Despite facing opposition, it remains a pivotal historical reform movement that paved the way for future struggles for rights and societal change.

Thousands of worshippers have gathered at the ongoing World Ijtema for the largest Jummah congregation, scheduled at 1:30 PM today. The prayer, held on the sacred night of Shab-e-Barat, will be led by Maulana Yusuf Bin Saad, the elder son of Maulana Saad. According to the Tablighi Jamaat’s media coordinator, Maulana Saad’s two sons arrived at the Ijtema ground early this morning. The second phase of the Ijtema officially began after the Fajr prayer, with an opening sermon delivered by Maulana Abdus Sattar.

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus urged the public to uphold justice and embrace Islamic principles in all aspects of life. In his Shab-e-Barat message, he called on people to eliminate injustice, violence, and superstitions, replacing them with the values of peace inherent in Islam. He also extended his greetings to Muslims in Bangladesh and around the world, emphasizing the importance of repentance and divine blessings on this holy night.

Before the final prayer session today, the death toll for the first phase of the World Ijtema rose to six. The latest deceased was Haji Abdur Gafur, a resident of Charfashion, Bhola. The first phase of the religious congregation concluded with a mass prayer led by Maulana Zubair Ahmed. During the prayer, all surrounding roads were closed, and after its conclusion, traffic resumed as attendees began leaving the venue.