WASHINGTON, October 15 (IslamOnline.net) – The Islamic Shura Council of North America and the Fiqh Council of North America have announced that Friday, October 15, is the first day of the Muslims’ holy fasting month of Ramadan.

The two bodies made the announcement based on reported crescent sighting in Austin, Texas, by two witnesses, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) reported on its Web site.

In a statement issued earlier, ISNA said it would adopt the position taken by the Fiqh Council of North America.

It also announced willingness to get the moon sighting reports on the evening of Thursday, October 14, noting it would evaluate the reports for authenticity.

"ISNA will take the information and have its consultants call you for further details to verify the sighting."

Differences among Arab and Islamic countries on defining the beginning of Ramadan could be also witnessed in the United States.

While some American Muslims await the ruling of Islamic scholars, others fast according to their countries of origin.

Muslims - mostly hailing from Egypt - in New Jersey, for example, fast the same day as Egyptians back home.

In Washington and areas in its vicinity, where prominent Saudi organizations are located, Muslims tend to fast when the moon is sighted in the Islamic kingdom.

Fortunately, this will obviously be less problematic this Ramadan as many countries agreed that the holy month starts Friday.

Egyptian Mufti Ali Gomaa said on state television Wednesday, October 13, that Thursday, October 14, will be the last day of Sha`ban and Ramadan will start on Friday.

Religious authorities in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates also said the new moon could not be sighted Wednesday, October 13, and therefore Ramadan will fall on Friday.

The Sight Seeing Decision Is Posted on the following Internet Web sites: http://www.isna.net, http://www.Hilal-Sighting.Com and http://moonsighting.com

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