RAMADAN STARTS THURSDAY

Cairo, 1 Ramadan 1436/June 18, 2015 (MINA) – Millions of Muslims will celebrate the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan on Thursday, June 18, following announcement that the new moon was not sighted on Tuesday.

“Tomorrow is the end of the month of Sha`aban and Thursday is the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan,” the Saudi Arabia Supreme Court reportedly said, On Islam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Egypt’s Iftaa House said the new moon of Ramadan was not sighted Tuesday, June 16.

“Therefore, Wednesday, June 17, will be the last day of Sha`ban and Thursday, June 18 will be the first day of Ramadan.”

A similar announcement was made by the UAE’s Moon Sighting Committee and other gulf states.

Crescent for holy month of Ramadan was not sighted also in Indonesia, Japan and Turkey. Therefore, the countries announced the start of Ramadan on Thursday.

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Muslims in France start fasting on Thursday, June 18, based on a statement from the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM).

The announcement followed an earlier announcement by the French Union of Islamic Organisations (UOIF) that Ramadan starts Thursday based on the calculation of the lunar cycle.

In Malaysia, the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal Datuk Syed Danial Syed Ahmad announced on Tuesday that the date for the beginning of the fast for states in Malaysia had been set for Thursday as decreed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after getting the consent of the Rulers, Malaysian Insider reported.

According to the Australian National Crescent Sighting Coordination Center, the crescent of Ramadan would be sighted on sunset of Wednesday, June 17.

The Fiqh Council of North America recognizes astronomical calculation as an acceptable method for determining the beginning of Lunar months including the months of Ramadan and Shawwal.

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FCNA uses Makkah as a conventional point and takes the position that the conjunction must take place before sunset in Makkah and moon must set after sunset in Makkah.

Moonsighting Wednesday

As many countries announced that Thursday will be the first of Ramadan, others said they will look for the new moon on Wednesday.

These countries include Oman, Bangladesh, Iran, India, Morocco and many African countries.

A similar announcement was made by the Pakistan Meteorological Department which forecast that there is a high chance for Ramadan to begin on Thursday.

DG Pakistan Meteorological Department Dr Ghulam Rasul said that due to the clear skies it was likely that the new moon would be seen tomorrow. The time duration of the moon’s visibility will be 38 minutes while its age is expected 24 hours and 44 minutes.

Chairman of the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman announced earlier the meeting to sight the moon of Ramadan will be held on Wednesday.

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The first day of Ramadan and moon sighting have always been a controversial issue among Muslim countries, and even scholars seem at odds over the issue.

While one group of scholars sees that Muslims in other regions and countries are to follow the same moon sighting as long as these countries share one part of the night, another states that Muslims everywhere should abide by the lunar calendar of Saudi Arabia.

A third, however, disputes both views, arguing that the authority in charge of ascertaining the sighting of the moon in a given country announces the sighting of the new moon, then Muslims in the country should all abide by this.

This usually causes confusion among Muslims, particularly in the West, on observing the dawn-to-dusk fasting and celebrating the `Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of fasting. (T/P006/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)