Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday extended his best wishes to Lebanese Muslims for the start of Ramadan, noting that this year the fasting month nearly coincides with the beginning of Lent for Christian communities.

In a message on the presidency’s X account, Aoun described it as “magnificent” that Ramadan “coincides with the start of Lent on Monday.” He added, “Lebanese of all faiths will share the spiritual values embodied by fasting.”

On Friday evening, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam had already extended his well wishes to “the Lebanese, Arabs, and Muslims” for the start of Ramadan.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, commemorates the revelation of the Quran to the prophet Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel. It is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving, and pilgrimage. During the month, Muslims must refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual relations from dawn until sunset. The daily fast is broken at iftar, and the month concludes with Eid al-Fitr, the “festival of breaking the fast.”

In Christian tradition, Lent is a 40-day period leading up to Easter, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. During this time, practitioners fast either fully or partially, mirroring the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert.

This year, Catholics, who follow the Gregorian calendar, and Orthodox Christians, who adhere to the Julian calendar, will celebrate Easter together on April 20. Last year, the Easter dates in different Christian communities were more than a month apart.