Muslims in Pakistan observe Itikaf during the fasting month of Ramadan

A Pakistani Muslim man is reading from a copy of the Koran as he observes 'Itikaf' at a mosque during the fasting month of Ramadan in Peshawar, Pakistan, on March 31, 2024. 'Itikaf' is an Islamic practice where the believer spends a period of isolation at a mosque, dedicated solely to worship, typically observed during the last 10 days of Ramadan. The holy month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, is believed to be the time when the first verse of the Koran was revealed during its last 10 nights. It is annually celebrated by praying during the night and abstaining from eating, drinking, and sexual acts from sunrise to sunset. It is also a time for socializing, primarily in the evening after breaking the fast, with a shift of all activities to later in the day in most countries.