- Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippine, Egypt, KSA, UAE, Nigeria and others have announced sighting the moon; so Friday is the first day of Ramadan
- Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Africa, Cameroon, Ghana, Djibouti and others are to observe the moon-sighting tonight.
Millions of Muslims worldwide will celebrate the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan on Friday, April 24, following announcement that the new moon had been sighted on Thursday, 29th of Shaaban.
“Therefore, Friday, April 24, will be the first day of Ramadan,” the Saudi Arabia Supreme Court reportedly said.
The Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta said on Wednesday that the committee for moonsighting did not sight the new moon. Therefore, Ramadan would start on Friday.
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Earlier today, the crescent was spotted in UAE as well, from Jebel Jais.
In Indonesia, the moon was sighted in Palabuhanratu, West Java province, according to the Indonesian Ministry of Religion. Therefore, Friday is the first day of Ramadan.
Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines also said Friday would be the first day of the holy month.
Awaiting Moon-sighting
The Hilal Committees in Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Africa, Cameroon, Ghana, Djibouti, Uganda, Niger, South Sudan and other African nations will attempt to sight the Ramadan 2020 crescent today.
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.
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.
According to the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR), Muslims in Europe start Ramadan fasting on Friday, April 24, according to astronomical calculations.
The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) said that Ramadan would begin on Friday, April 24, in North America.
Saturday
Pakistan’s newly formed Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee could not see the Ramadan and that the holy month will commence in Pakistan on Saturday.
Like Pakistan, Oman will observe the holy month beginning Saturday, April 25, according to a statement issued by the Oman news agency.
The first day of Ramadan and moon sighting have always been a controversial issue among Muslim countries. Even scholars seem at odds over the issue.
While one group of scholars maintains 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 group of scholars says 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.