The Council of Qadis of the Caucasus Muslim Board (CMB) has issued a fatwa regarding the start of the month of Ramadan.
According to Modern.az, the fatwa states that the 1st day of the month of Ramadan this year will coincide with February 19 according to the Gregorian calendar.
“We would like to remind our religious figures once again that giving ehsan (charity/feast) at gatherings before iftar is strictly forbidden, because, by the decree of Allah and the command of the Prophet (PBUH), setting a table before iftar in the name of ehsan is a religiously forbidden (haram) act. Religious figures bear responsibility for adhering to these rules and are accountable for them from a Sharia perspective.”
The fatwa recommends that tables set on the evenings of Novruz Tuesdays (Chaharshanbas) should be adjusted to iftar times, and thereby our people may attain the joys and blessings of both Ramadan and Novruz.
According to this year's Ramadan calendar, the Nights of Qadr (Laylat al-Qadr) are on March 8, 10, 12, and 16.
Eid al-Fitr (Ramazan Bayramı) will coincide with March 20.
The fatwa states that the amount of Zakat al-Fitr is determined to be around 10-15 manats per person.
