Ramadan on the Net - When Does Ramadan Begin?

When Does Ramadan Begin?

That's a good question! More than 1 billion Muslims around the world celebrate Ramadan, but they do not share a consensus about when the holiday officially begins.

The debate over the start of Ramadan began back in the 7th century, when the prophet Muhammad instructed his followers to begin their fast the morning after visibly sighting the thin crescent moon that marks the beginning of a new month.

Wanting to follow the prophet's instructions literally, religious leaders decided not to rely on astronomical calculations to accurately predict the appearance of the new moon. Rather, they waited until they could see the new moon with their naked eye.

However, differences in geography and even weather conditions meant that not everyone saw the moon at the same time -- which, therefore, meant that Muslims in different parts of the world began the fast on different days.

There have been movements throughout Islamic history pushing for the use of astronomical calculations -- most recently in 2006 by a group of Muslim legal scholars known as the Fiqh Council of North America.

The Fiqh Council succeeded in setting a date for the start of Ramadan in North America, although traditionalists have rebuked that move. And in many parts of the world, Ramadan still does not begin until religious leaders declare that they have personally seen the new moon.

When is Ramadan? Check our Islamic Calendar for dates.

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Comments

Aliyu from Nigeria

05:46 09/20/2009

If this Fiqh Organisation are based in Saudi Arabia or any other Muslim country not in America, I believe they could have succeded in convincing at least 80% of muslim countries by adopting the Astronomical calculations.

naveed qasir from Spain

15:08 09/19/2009

salam

fevil

16:32 09/18/2009

what time end fasting during the day?

afzal siddiqui from Pakistan

12:00 09/17/2009

many many happy eid ul fiter mubarik advance.AFZAL SIDDIQUI(karachi, pakistan)

AMIRI from New Mexico, US

18:11 09/08/2009

I want to know what time i can brick my fast and.

faizal from Qatar

11:42 09/03/2009

assalam alaikum

Wali ahmad wali from Afghanistan

07:04 08/30/2009

I need some ramadan subjects for my islamic weekly alfalah please help me

AHMED SEID from Ethiopia

04:09 08/30/2009

MAY I GET REMEDAN CALANER , THAT SHOW IFTAR AND SUHR TIME OF MY CITY (ADDIS ABABA) ?

ahmad ali from California, US

09:14 08/27/2009

please sent me ramadan timing for sohoor and iftar it is not found on ur website thanks

Azouaou from Italy

08:56 08/27/2009

Salem to all muslims , I'd like wish to all of you Ramadan Karem and god bless us . Thanks Azouaou

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