The Islamic holy month of Ramadan is set to begin. Here's what you need to know about the period and how it's observed.

For nearly 2 billion Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a time of deep reflection, spiritual connection and community.

Ramadan is followed by the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

The Muslim holiday of Ramadan starts tonight, Feb. 28, and lasts until March 29. The monthlong observance of Ramadan is a period of introspection, communal prayer and reading the Qurʾān. According to Islam, those who observe the holy month of Ramadan with fasting, prayer and faithful intention are forgiven by God for their past sins.

Ramadan is a time of togetherness for Muslims, as they fill mosques for hours of prayer and share large, lavish meals with family, friends and neighbors after days of dawn-to-dusk fasting.

This weekend begins the month-long observance of Ramadan. In Houston, a month of events and celebrations are part of the religious and cultural observance for the city’s Muslim population, the largest in Texas.

Muslims will begin fasting during the month of Ramadan this weekend. The sighting of the new moon heralds the beginning of the month of Ramadan. Parts of the Middle East have already announced that the first day of Ramadan will be tomorrow (Saturday).

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan, commemorating the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, will begin Friday evening upon the sighting of the moon, with fasting beginning on Saturday.