Islam is based on five key practices known as pillars. The first is the profession of faith called Shahada. The second pillar is prayer five times a day while facing Mecca. The third pillar is a charity helping those in need. The fourth pillar is Ramzan fasting from dawn to dusk and the fifth and final pillar is the pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest site in Islam.

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The last two pillars face an immense challenge in the current times. Both will be taking place once again during a pandemic.&nbsp;

For a community of 1.8 billion people, there are bound to be concerns.

Is intermittent fasting safe during a pandemic?&nbsp;

In the month of Ramzan, Muslims who've crossed puberty abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset. The purpose is physical and spiritual purification.&nbsp;

In its Ramzan 2021 advisory, the WHO says there is no evidence to suggest that fasting can increase the risk of infection. Those suffering from the persistence of symptoms after recovery can also fast. They've been advised to break it in case of aggravated symptoms.

Does taking a vaccine while fasting invalidates your fast?&nbsp;

The answer depends on who you ask or follow. Some hardline clerics are strictly opposed to vaccination during fasting. But a majority say it is permissible. From Saudi Arabia's highest cleric to the top religious leader in Lebanon and top Islamic bodies in Indonesia, they have all said that getting a jab is completely okay. They say, since the vaccine is injected and not consumed. It does not constitute breaking the fast.&nbsp;

As for the Hajj, Saudi Arabia has made vaccination a must for the pilgrimage which begins in July. You'll be allowed to enter Mecca if you have received two doses of the vaccine.

A single dose at least 14 days before the pilgrimage or if one has recovered from the virus.&nbsp;

The doubts have been cleared, the rules have been put in place to ensure they work. The trick is to follow one of the most important lessons of Ramzan : patience and persistence.

Islam is based on five key practices known as pillars. The first is the profession of faith called Shahada. The second pillar is prayer five times a day while facing Mecca.

Islam is based on five key practices known as pillars. The first is the profession of faith called Shahada. The second pillar is prayer five times a day while facing Mecca. The third pillar is a charity helping those in need. The fourth pillar is Ramzan fasting from dawn to dusk and the fifth and final pillar is the pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest site in Islam. The last two pillars face an immense challenge in the current times. Both will be taking place once again during a pandemic. For a community of 1.8 billion people, there are bound to be concerns. Is intermittent fasting safe during a pandemic? In the month of Ramzan, Muslims who've crossed puberty abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset. The purpose is physical and spiritual purification. In its Ramzan 2021 advisory, the WHO says there is no evidence to suggest that fasting can increase the risk of infection. Those suffering from the persistence of symptoms after recovery can also fast. They've been advised to break it in case of aggravated symptoms. Does taking a vaccine while fasting invalidates your fast? The answer depends on who you ask or follow. Some hardline clerics are strictly opposed to vaccination during fasting. But a majority say it is permissible. From Saudi Arabia's highest cleric to the top religious leader in Lebanon and top Islamic bodies in Indonesia, they have all said that getting a jab is completely okay. They say, since the vaccine is injected and not consumed. It does not constitute breaking the fast. As for the Hajj, Saudi Arabia has made vaccination a must for the pilgrimage which begins in July. You'll be allowed to enter Mecca if you have received two doses of the vaccine. A single dose at least 14 days before the pilgrimage or if one has recovered from the virus. The doubts have been cleared, the rules have been put in place to ensure they work. The trick is to follow one of the most important lessons of Ramzan : patience and persistence.

Ramzan and pandemic: All you need to know

Facebook-owned photo-sharing platform Instagram has rolled out new features on the occasion of Ramzan.

The platform has launched three new stickers created for Ramzan that started today and will continue until May 12. The new stickers can be used in Instagram Stories.

Instagram&nbsp;frequently launches stickers to celebrate festivals, and commemorate important events around the world.

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Tara Bedi, Public Policy and Community Outreach Manager, Instagram, Facebook India, posted the stickers on her Instagram account and spoke about the new features.

Instagram worked with Hala AlAbbasi, an illustrator from Bahrain, to create the three stickers for the occasion."Ramzan Mubarak, Ramadan Kareem! Today we`re launching new themed product features, while celebrating acts of kindness around in this #MonthofGood," Bedi wrote in the caption.

"Stickers: We worked with @haluulie to create 3 new stickers so that you can share the traditions of Ramadan on Instagram. Hala AlAbbasi, an illustrator in Bahrain, was inspired by her favourite aspects of the holiday, and chose to reflect on the "beautiful moments that we share together," added Bedi.

"Hala hopes that her stickers will be used throughout Ramadan to mark moments of celebration, from greetings to special suhoors and iftars, all the way to celebrating Eid. Swipe to see all 3 stickers," the post further read.

The three stickers include the moon, iftar food, and a mosque in colourful illustrations. Instagram has also placed the stickers under `Featured` so they appear on top in the sticker stray.

The recently-released stickers will also be visible through a multi-author story on Instagram. So if you have people you follow, use any of the stickers, they'll appear together in a collated story in your feed.

How to use the stickers:

1. Open the camera on your Instagram application.

2. Take a photo or record a video that you wish to put up as a story.

3. Tap on the sticker icon available on the top bar.

4. The new stickers will be visible under `Featured`.

5. Select any as per your liking or all of the stickers and place them on your story.

Facebook-owned photo-sharing platform Instagram has rolled out new features on the occasion of Ramzan. The platform has launched three new stickers created for Ramzan that started today and will continue until May 12.

Facebook-owned photo-sharing platform Instagram has rolled out new features on the occasion of Ramzan. The platform has launched three new stickers created for Ramzan that started today and will continue until May 12. The new stickers can be used in Instagram Stories. Instagram frequently launches stickers to celebrate festivals, and commemorate important events around the world. Tara Bedi, Public Policy and Community Outreach Manager, Instagram, Facebook India, posted the stickers on her Instagram account and spoke about the new features. Instagram worked with Hala AlAbbasi, an illustrator from Bahrain, to create the three stickers for the occasion."Ramzan Mubarak, Ramadan Kareem! Today we`re launching new themed product features, while celebrating acts of kindness around in this #MonthofGood," Bedi wrote in the caption. "Stickers: We worked with @haluulie to create 3 new stickers so that you can share the traditions of Ramadan on Instagram. Hala AlAbbasi, an illustrator in Bahrain, was inspired by her favourite aspects of the holiday, and chose to reflect on the "beautiful moments that we share together," added Bedi. "Hala hopes that her stickers will be used throughout Ramadan to mark moments of celebration, from greetings to special suhoors and iftars, all the way to celebrating Eid. Swipe to see all 3 stickers," the post further read. The three stickers include the moon, iftar food, and a mosque in colourful illustrations. Instagram has also placed the stickers under `Featured` so they appear on top in the sticker stray. The recently-released stickers will also be visible through a multi-author story on Instagram. So if you have people you follow, use any of the stickers, they'll appear together in a collated story in your feed. How to use the stickers: 1. Open the camera on your Instagram application. 2. Take a photo or record a video that you wish to put up as a story. 3. Tap on the sticker icon available on the top bar. 4. The new stickers will be visible under `Featured`. 5. Select any as per your liking or all of the stickers and place them on your story.

Instagram launches new stickers on Ramzan, here's how to use them

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Ramzan and pandemic: All you need to know

Instagram launches new stickers on Ramzan, here's how to use them