ALBAWABA - The lunar crescent of the holy month of Ramadan could not be sighted Tuesday in several Muslim nations across the Middle East, making the first day of the fasting month on Thursday.
In Saudi Arabia, media outlets reported that the Ramadan crescent could not be seen in a number of observatories across the Kingdom. Accordingly, Saudi Arabia declared that Thursday will be the first day of Ramadan's dawn to dusk fasting.
Ramadan crescent moon not sighted in Saudi Arabia today#GeoNewshttps://t.co/fmDqN0CSDw
— Geo English (@geonews_english) March 21, 2023
Qatar, another member of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, also said Ramadan's crescent was not detected.
The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) has announced that Ramadan will start on Thursday in Qatar. pic.twitter.com/oalPalm7ZM
— Gulf Times (@GulfTimes_QATAR) March 21, 2023
Qatar said its Crescent Investigation Committee at the Ministry of Awqaf, or religious affairs, announced that Thursday will be the first day of fasting.
Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Yemen, Palestine and Syria followed suit with announcements that Wednesday is the last day of the Muslim calendar month of Shaaban, which precedes Ramadan, making Thursday the first day of fasting in those nations as well.
Saudi Arabia announced that the crescent moon could not be sighted on Tuesday, and therefore the first day of #Ramadan in will be on Thursday March 23. pic.twitter.com/KsMk3zFFwP
— KUWAIT TIMES (@kuwaittimesnews) March 21, 2023
These countries had earlier called on all Muslims to investigate crescent sighting on Tuesday evening.
Iraq, Kurdistan Region announce first day of Ramadan@DrawMediaNet
— Draw English (@DrawMediaNet) March 21, 2023
The KRG Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs and The Iraqi Sunni Endowment Office announced Thursday, March 23 as the first day of Ramadan 2023. pic.twitter.com/i5dgcrQNoD
Every year, Muslims observe the crescent of Ramadan in the last days of the Hijri month of Shaaban.
It’s official. The holy month of #Ramadan will begin in the #UAE on Thursday, March 23. The moon-sighting committee said the crescent moon — which signals the start of a month in the Islamic Hijri calendar — was not spotted on Tuesday (March 21) night.https://t.co/gYIZQmbgZz pic.twitter.com/Wd7Mrp6kHu
— Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) March 21, 202
