Muslims at a Holland's mosque

By Khaled Shawkat, IOL Correspondent

THE HAGUE, October 26 (IslamOnline.net) – Muslims in the Netherlands will mark the holy fasting month of Ramadan Monday, October 27, along with other major European countries, despite sharp differences between different groups in the northwestern European country.

The discordant note was struck when the country's largest mosque Al-Nasr in the southern city of Rotterdam said it would follow the lunar calendar of Saudi Arabia, while other groups were adamant about adopting the astronomical calculations to settle on the first day of the dawn-to-dusk fasting month.

But the differences were settled as both Turkey and Saudi Arabia announcing that Ramadan would fall Monday according to astronomical observations.

The Turkish community in Holland – which accounts for 50 percent of the one million Muslim population – abides by the official calendar set up by the Turkish ministry of religious affairs, which depends on astronomical observations.

All Turkish state-run and private radio and television stations and mass media have declared that the holy month of Ramadan would astronomically start Monday.

But despite their differences, Muslims in Holland huddle together during the holy month, organize religious gatherings and prepare Iftar meals for the needy and the poor.

Benaser Zakik, a Muslim activist in Rotterdam, told IslamOnline.net that he set up interesting programs for the holy month.

He said will organize a religious lecture Saturdays, a weekly Iftar for Muslims of every stripe and night vigil prayers during the last ten days of the holy month.

"I extended the invitation for a number of imams and Muslim scholars to deliver weekly sermons during Ramadan, which will all cast a harsh light on the nobility of the Islamic faith and help Muslims make the best out of the month," Zakik said.

"It is very important to have such sermons in view of the secular and materialistic society where we live," he added.

Zakik, who is of a Moroccan origin, also said he will organize a symposium titled "The Youths and Faith," which will bring together orientlaists and Muslim scholars.

Fasting Sunday

Among other European countries that will start fasting Monday are France and Switzerland.

However, Germany, Ireland and Belgium mark Ramadan Sunday.

The Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland (ICCI) announced that the start of the Muslims holy fasting month of Ramadan falls Sunday, reported Wael Shehab from Dublin.

The ICCI called on Muslims in Ireland to start fasting as of Sunday, after the new moon of Ramadan was sighted in many Islamic countries such as Egypt, Palestine, Yemen and Nigeria.

"We adopt the view of the majority of Muslim scholars if the new moon of Ramadan appears in the East first, people living in the West should abide by it, and vice versa, in order to agree on the day to commence fasting," said Sheikh Hussain Halawa, Imam of the ICCI and General Trustee of the well-reputed European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR).

"The Muslim community in Ireland – and all over the world – should be united in blessed occasions such as Ramadan. They should start fasting on one day and never divide into pieces."

Sheikh Halawa also indicated that the "Islamic Scientific Committee for Moon Sighting in Germany, headed by Dr. Muhammad Al-Hawari, a member of the ECFR, issued a declaration stating that Sunday is the first day of Ramadan."

Additional Reporting By Wael Shehab, IOL Staff