US President Barack Obama on Wednesday offered best wishes to Muslims in the United States and around the world as they observe the holy fasting month of Ramadan. "All of us must remember that the world we want to build -- and the changes that we want to make -- must begin in our own hearts, and our own communities," Obama said in a statement released by the White House.
The US president said he looked forward to hosting a White House Iftar dinner, the meal that breaks the daily fast.
Obama said the rituals of Ramadan "remind us of the principles that we hold in common, and Islam's role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings."
"Here in the United States, Ramadan is a reminder that Islam has always been part of America and that American Muslims have made extraordinary contributions to our country," said the president.
"And today, I want to extend my best wishes to the 1.5 billion Muslims around the world -- and your families and friends -- as you welcome the beginning of Ramadan," he said. "May God's peace be upon you."
