The spirit of Ramadan in Afghanistan: prayer and charity

Afghans celebrate the true spirit of Ramadan despite an uptick in violence at the start of the Muslim holy month.

AFP

2017-06-12

An Afghan vendor prepares prayer beads displayed for sale ahead of Ramadan in Kabul May 26. [Wakil Kohsar/AFP]

Afghan volunteers distribute dates as others wait to break their fast in Kabul on the first day of Ramadan (May 27). [Wakil Kohsar/AFP]

Afghan men take iftar together on the first day of Ramadan (May 27) in Kabul. Dates are usually eaten to break the fast. [Wakil Kohsar/AFP]

An Afghan man prepares traditional sweets in Kabul May 26. [Wakil Kohsar/AFP]

A shopkeeper prepares dried fruit and nuts as he waits for customers May 26 in Kabul. [Wakil Kohsar/AFP]

Afghan children collect rice donated by a private charity during the first day of Ramadan, May 27, in Kabul. [Wakil Kohsar/AFP]

Afghan men pray June 7 in Mazar-e-Sharif during Ramadan. [Hoshang Hashimi/AFP]

KABUL -- Afghan Muslims are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, which started May 27, by attending communal prayers in mosques, reading the Koran, breaking the daily fast with others and offering food to those in need.

Militant groups such as the Taliban, "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) and allied insurgents, however, have shown their true colours with a series of attacks during the holy month.

The attacks show militants' complete disregard for Islam, holy days and innocent lives.

A Taliban suicide car bomber killed 13 people in Khost city May 27 in the first major attack at the start of Ramadan.

Afghan boys read the Koran during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in Jalalabad May 28. [Noorullah Shirzada/AFP]

On May 31, a massive truck bomb in Kabul's diplomatic quarter killed 150 and injured more than 300, according to President Ashraf Ghani.

On Tuesday (June 6), a motorcycle bomb exploded near the Grand Mosque in Herat, killing seven people and wounding 16, according to the Interior Ministry.

"Terrorists can shed our blood, but they cannot break our will," Ghani said Tuesday at the Kabul Process conference.