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Palestinian women walk past Ramadan decorations in occupied Al-Quds (Reuters) |
CAIRO -- Millions of Muslims around the world will start observing the holy fasting month of Ramadan as of Thursday, September 13.
The authorities in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar announced Tuesday, September 11, that Ramadan will start Thursday.
Jordan's Chief Justice Ahmed Helayel announced Tuesday that Thursday would be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.
Egyptian Mufti Ali Goaa said because the Ramadan moon was not seen Tuesday the fasting will start Thursday.
Shiites in Lebanon announced earlier this week that fasting will start on Thursday based on astronomical calculations.
Lebanon's Sunni Mufti Mohammaed Rashed Qabani also announced that Ramadan will start Thursday.
Iraq's Sunnis will fast on Thursday.
"The legal committee for observing the crescent has decided that Thursday is the first day of Ramadan," said Sheikh Ahmed Abdul Ghafur al-Sammaraie in a statement.
Palestinian Mufti Mohammed Hussein also made a similar announcement.
Algeria, Turkey, Syria and Mauritania said Ramadan begins Thursday.
The Indonesian religious affairs minister said Ramadan will start Thursday.
Malaysia announced that Muslims in the Asian country will start fasting on Thursday.
Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) said Ramadan falls on Thursday based on astronomical calculations.
The fatwa houses in Tajikistan and Kazakhstan also confirmed Thursday as the start of Ramadan.
Iran begins fasting on Thursday.
The Anjuman Sunnat -ul- Jamaat Association announced that Ramadan will start in Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday based on moon sighting.
Muslims in Brunei will begin the month-long Ramadan fasting Thursday, September 13, after religious officials confirmed the new moon was not sighted.
The Islamic society in China said fasting starts Thursday.
During Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain during daylight hours from food, drink, smoking and sex.
Europe As Well
The Union of Islamic Organisations in France (UOIF) anounced that Ramadan will start Thursday.
The Islamic Cultural Centre, East London Mosque and Abbey Mills Mosque announced that the sizable Muslim minority in Britain will be united in starting the fast on Thursday.
The Islamic Community of Kosova announced during a press conference that the holy fasting month starts Thursday.
The Imams Association in the Netherlands said the Muslim minority will start observing the holy fasting month as of Thursday.
In Germany, the scientific committee on moon sighting confirmed the new moon was not seen and Ramadan will start Thursday.
In Austria, the coordination council of Muslim organizations also announced Thursday as the start of Ramadan.
In the Czech republic, the Islamic Waqf authority said Ramadan will begin Thursday. The same announcement was made by the Islamic Waqf in Slovakia.
The Islamic waqf in Denmark and the Muslim association in Sweden decided to start the fast with Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) has announced that Muslims in North America will mark the start of the holy month as of Thursday as per astronomical calculations.
Differences
Some Muslim countries have already confirmed different dates for started the fast.
Libya said Ramadan starts Wednesday, September 10, citing calculations by its own Center for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences.
In Nigeria, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs announced that Ramadan starts on Wednesday.
Iraq's Shiites will start fasting on Friday, according to the office of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
"The office of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani expects that the crescent will be observed late Thursday and Friday will be the first day of Ramadan," a statement from Sistani's office said.
Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Mauritius, Morocco, Sudan and Muslims in the Philippines will sight Ramadan moon Wednesday.
Bangladesh will sight Ramadan moon Thursday
Moon sighting has 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 this 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.
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