Muslims around the world welcome the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan, the month of fasting from dawn until sunset, intense prayer, charity, and festivities.

But while they enjoy the diverse traditions of their communities - from holidays to evening activities - the hardships faced by their fellow Muslims are never far from anyone's mind. This year, war and famine in the Gaza Strip have cast a particularly dark shadow over the celebrations.

Many are also struggling to buy food as inflation remains high in many countries and worsens in some.

However, even Muslims who are struggling economically or otherwise look forward to what is widely regarded as the true blessings of the holy month - prayer and contemplation, nurtured by fasting all day, and the time they spend with their loved ones.

In Pakistan, the city that never sleeps

No one spends Ramadan better than the residents of Karachi, at least according to Maulana Tanveer-ul-Haq Thanvi, an Islamic scholar in the southern Pakistani city.

The number of worshippers in the mosque run by his family increases from 10,000 to 15,000 during the holy month, and volunteers work to ensure there is enough space, food, and water for Maghrib prayer.

From dawn until dusk, devout Muslims worldwide refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and intimacy. Even the smallest sip of water would break the fast, aiming to help the mind focus on prayer and charity.

Thanvi said: "In Ramadan, our prayers are heard and religious rituals happen day and night." "People want to help others who are more in need than them, even those who themselves do not have much to offer." His sermons will focus on "how people should treat each other, including after Ramadan ends."

At sunset, many break their fast with one or two dates, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to do, before attending Maghrib prayer, after which they gather for "Iftar," a lavish feast usually shared with friends and family, and a festive atmosphere prevails until late at night.

Thanvi said, "The locals do not sleep; you will see children playing cricket in the street after Iftar."

In Indonesia, rising prices threaten the holidays

Muslims enjoy Iftar with their delicious local dishes. In Egypt, shelves are filled with Qamar al-Din, an apricot dessert; in Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan, street vendors make Qatayef, small pancakes filled with cream and nuts and drizzled with syrup.

In Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population in the world, Ramadan rituals vary by region, reflecting the country's rich and diverse culture. Many celebrate by eating slow-cooked Rendang beef in coconut milk and local spices.

This will be harder to achieve this year as the country faces rising food prices due to global inflation and a poor local rice harvest.

Sari Yanti, a mother of three, stood in a long line at one of the many distribution points in the capital Jakarta to buy government-subsidized rice and other essentials, saying the situation had never been this bad before. She said: "Prices are rising these days, and anything related to cooking is getting more expensive."

Mosques and charities across the Islamic world organize free Iftar meals for the poor, and sometimes the meat served is the only meat they eat all year.

In Egypt, many suffer despite the festive atmosphere

In Cairo, streets are decorated with colorful Ramadan lanterns, bakeries sell Eid sweets, and television networks promote prime-time series, hoping to benefit from the nighttime food-related trances.

A man joked while waiting in line outside a bakery displaying trays of Eid sweets, including baklava, Qatayef, and Kunafa: "Ramadan is the month of prayer, but it is also the month of sweets."

But here too, beneath the natural veneer of the holidays, many suffer. The government floated its currency last week as part of an emergency bailout plan from the International Monetary Fund, leading to a sharp rise in prices.

One in three people in Egypt, the most populous country in the Arab world, already lived in poverty, and in recent years, even the middle class has struggled to cover expenses.

Abdel Karim Salah, a government employee and father of four, was shopping for groceries before Ramadan in the working-class neighborhood surrounding the famous Sayyida Zainab Mosque, where alleys are filled with lights and lanterns: "The situation was very difficult."

He added, "We only buy the necessities. For us and many like us, meat has become a luxury."

In the United States, guilt over Gaza overwhelms many

Sonia Odeen, a second-generation Pakistani American living in Orange County, California, said her family sometimes enjoys hamburgers at Iftar and coffee and donuts at Suhoor, the meal just before dawn before the daily fast begins.

She strives to maintain the traditions of her immigrant parents but said her 14-year-old son "is actually more Western than Eastern," insisting on eating American-style while they celebrate the holy month half a world away from the cradle of Islam.

She looks forward to attending night prayers, drinking tea with friends, and meeting people she hasn't seen since last year.

But for her and many other American Muslims, those happy moments will be overshadowed by worries about Gaza, where an ongoing Israeli attack for five months has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians, displaced most residents from their homes, and pushed hundreds of thousands to the brink of famine.

Israel launched the campaign in response to a Hamas attack on October 7, in which Palestinian fighters killed about 1,200 people in Israel and held about 250 hostages. The United States, Israel's biggest ally, has provided decisive military and diplomatic support while calling for more aid for civilians.

Odeen said, "Ramadan was usually the time I took a break from the outside world and focused on my relationship with God." "But this year, shutting down is not an option for me. I need to keep active so that the voices of those without a voice can be heard."

Zulfit Suara, a Nigerian American and the first Muslim to serve on the Nashville Metro Council in Tennessee, said Gaza is "at the top of her prayers."

"That's the whole point of Ramadan – only that matters. Suara said, "That's the main reason for our fasting."

She plans to attend Music City Iftar, an annual community event for Muslims and non-Muslims. She said interfaith dialogue has broken down barriers and perhaps helped her win the election.

"Muslims are no longer strangers. She said our customs and traditions have become part of our community.

Ahmed Ayoub, a 20-year-old Palestinian American from Nashville, said he looks forward to spending Fridays at the city’s Islamic center and having Iftar with his family, but the guilt is already creeping in.

He said, "I will come home to break my fast and eat a full meal while our aunts, uncles, and cousins in Palestine are forced to continue starving." "There will definitely be guilt when I know this full meal is in front of me."