Since the rest of the world uses the solar or Georgian calendar, which is based on the phases of the moon cycle, Islam uses the lunar or Hijri calendar, which has 354 days. As a result, Ramadan, also known as Ramazan, Ramzan, or Ramzaan, occurs 10 or 11 days earlier every year, and Muslims all over the world look forward to seeing the crescent moon that signals the start of the Holy Month.
This is due to the fact that the crescent of Ramadan is typically seen one day later in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other countries after it is first sighted in Saudi Arabia, certain regions of India, and a few Western nations.
One of the five pillars of Islam is the Ramadan fast, during which devout Muslims abstain from food and liquids from sunrise to sunset. They customarily get together for iftar, or the evening meal, to break their fast with dates or khajur.
Many people view Ramadan as the month of forgiveness when they overcome the illusions of this world, kick harmful habits rather than putting them on hold, supplicate, heal, donate, sleep less, pray more, and revel in the pleasure of imaan.
This year, if the crescent moon is seen in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries with a majority of Muslims on the evening of March 10, which is the 29th day of Sha’ban, 1445 Hijri, it might start on March 11. The moon seeing committee in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will declare on Monday night that the first day of Ramadan might fall on Tuesday, March 12, if the Ramadan crescent is not seen on Sunday, March 10 following Salat al Maghrib.
However, scholars like Ibn Tariq, Wutheringham, Maunder, Parwin, Elias, and astronomical observatories like SAAO, along with researchers Yallop and Odeh, believe there is a chance to see the crescent on Sunday, March 10.
The first day of fasting for those who will most likely see the Ramadan moon on March 11—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Iran, Pakistan, South Africa, Indonesia, and Malaysia—will be March 12. If not, the first day of fasting for those nations will fall on March 13 in India and other South Asian nations.
