CAIRO, June 5 (Aswat Masriya) - Egypt's Dar al-Ifta announced on Sunday that Monday will be the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

Dar al-Ifta is the authorised institution to issue religious edicts or fatwas interpreting the teachings of Islam.  The institution determines the beginning of the lunar months through observation of the crescent.

Throughout the holy month, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking since dawn until sunset.