A Moon sighting committee has been formed to determine the start of Ramadan.
Chaired by the Minister of Justice, Sultan bin Saeed Al Badi, the committee will convene after Maghrib prayers on Sunday to witness the first sighting of the crescent Moon.
If a new crescent Moon is seen Ramadan is declared to begin the following day.
The Muslim calendar is determined by Moon phases making each month last between 29 and 30 days. Islamic years span on average between 354 and 355 days.
The end of Sha’ban and beginning of Ramadan starts when a new crescent Moon appears immediately after sunset.
Farmers used the Moon sighting to determine when to cultivate crops. They had to rely on the naked eye to see moon changes but now telescopes are used to help determine when the holy month should begin.
Sharia courts have been called on to look out for the crescent Moon and notify the committee. Discrepancies sometimes arise between countries’ committees, resulting in some countries observing Ramadan earlier than others.
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