MAKKAH – As the majority of Muslims worldwide prepare to welcome Ramadan on Saturday, May 27, many eyes are fixed on calendars to check fasting hours in their countries, witnessing a huge difference between countries with longest and shortest fasting hours.

In Greenland, America, Muslims will observe the longest fasting period in the world this year, abstaining from food and water for 21:02 hours, Ummid.com reported.

Those in Argentina will fast the least number of hours, about 11 hours and 32 minutes, according to dawn to sunset interval on May 27.

As per the global map, other countries with long fasting hours include Iceland 21 hours followed by Finland 19:56 hours, Norway 19:48 hours and Sweden 19:42 hours.

Other countries in Europe with considerably longest hours of fasting are Russia 19:07 hours, Denmark 19:05 hours, Belarus 18:52 hours, Germany 18:51 hours, Ireland 18:48 and United Kingdom 18:34 hours.

In southern Europe countries, Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina will fast for 17 hours and 19 minutes and those in France the fasting hours on May 27 will be 17 hours and 11 minutes.

In African countries, Muslims in Nigeria will observe the longest fasting hours of 13:50 whereas those in Zimbabwe will fast for 12:26 hours.

Those in Egypt will fast for 15:38 hours, and people in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Dubai, Oman, Tunisia, Kuwait and Palestine for 15:30 to 14:45 hours.

According to astrologers, the northern hemisphere will observe not only the longest fasting period but also the most heat in at least 33 years during this Ramadan.

In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to become closer to Allah through prayer, self-restraint and good deeds.

It is customary for Muslims to spend part of the days during Ramadan studying the Noble Qur’an.

Many men perform i`tikaf (spiritual retreat), spending the last 10 days of the month exclusively in the mosque.