Ramadan moon could not be sighted in KSA, fasting to begin from Thursday
Start of Ramadan is determined by the lunar calendar
RIYADH (Dunya News) – The Ramadan moon could not be sighted in Saudi Arabia tonight (Tuesday), the holy month of Ramadan will begin on Thursday, May 17.
The holiest month of Islamic lunar calendar, will begin either from May 17 (Thursday) in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar, depending on the moon sighting.
The moon could not be sighted tonight, the first day of Ramadan will be Thursday, May 17: Saudi sources. Gulf News
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 15, 2018
The announcement was made after the Saudi moon-sighting committee met on Tuesday evening and was not able to sight the Ramadan crescent. The UAE government has reduced working hours for the public and private sector for the holy month of Ramadan.
The start of Ramadan is determined by the lunar calendar which, unlike the Gregorian calendar, follows a 29- or 30-day cycle determined by the cycle of the moon. Muslims around the world anticipate the end of Shaaban, the month preceding Ramadan, by watching for the presence or absence of the crescent moon, and whether it indicates the continuation of Shaban or beginning of Ramadan.
#Ramadan 2018 to begin on Thursday, May 17, moon not sighted in Saudi Arabia #ramadankareem https://t.co/k2z8w74BwL pic.twitter.com/OLxu2L6nsG
— Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) May 15, 2018
