Arab Astronomers Say Ramadan Will Begin on April 2
They say the beginning of Ramadan will fall on April 2, 2022, Al-Ain website reported.
They have also predicted the holy month to have 30 days this year, meaning that it will end on Sunday, May 1, and Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated the next day.
Ibrahim Al-Jarwan, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Astronomy Society in the United Arab Emirates and member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, said the crescent moon will be visible on the evening of April 2 and, therefore, the following day will be the start of Ramadan.
The Istihlal (moonlighting) committee of Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta also said the beginning of Ramadan is expected to fall on April 2, but it will nonetheless carry out Istihlal on April 1 to make sure it is the right date.
Istihlal refers to efforts for sighting the new moon that determines the beginning of a new month on the lunar Hijri calendar.
While some Muslim scholars rely on astronomical calculations, in many Muslim countries, including Iran, moon-sighting committees are set up to confirm the start and end of lunar Hijri months, including Ramadan.
Eid al-Firt marks the end of Ramadan, a month in which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.
