The holy month of Ramadan, during which the fasting ritual, one of the essential acts of worship in Islam, is performed, begins.
According to the fatwa of the Council of Qadis of the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO), the 1st day of Ramadan in Azerbaijan this year will fall on tomorrow, February 19, according to the Gregorian calendar. The CMO announced the start date of Ramadan based on the data from the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory named after Nasir al-Din al-Tusi.
It should be noted that the beginning of the month of Ramadan does not fall on the same day in the Islamic world. As in previous years, Muslim countries have set different start dates for the month of Ramadan this year.
According to Islamic law, the beginning and end of the lunar calendar are determined by the movements of the new Moon (Crescent-hilal).
In Islamic jurisprudence, there are two opposing views regarding the determination of the new moon:
- those who prefer the visual observation method;
- those who base their decisions on scientific measurements and calculations.
It is precisely for this reason that differences are observed in the start dates of Ramadan among Muslim countries.
It should be noted that, in addition to Azerbaijan, the start date of Ramadan has been set for February 19 in several other countries.
At the same time, there are many countries that have declared February 18 as the first day of Ramadan.
The Modern.az website has clarified the names of countries that have set different start dates for Ramadan.
Countries starting Ramadan tomorrow - February 19
Jordan's Grand Mufti Ahmed al-Hasanat announced that the month of Ramadan would begin on Thursday, February 19, due to the non-sighting of the Moon.
Egypt's Grand Mufti Nazir Ayad also stated in a televised announcement that the new Moon had not been sighted, and therefore Thursday (February 19) would be the first day of Ramadan
It has also been officially announced that Ramadan will begin on Thursday, February 19, in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, Oman, and Syria.
Countries starting Ramadan today - February 18
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Yemen, Palestine, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Lebanon, however, have announced that February 18 is the first day of Ramadan.
In a written statement by the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia, it was declared that the crescent of Ramadan had been sighted and that February 18 was the first day of Ramadan.
The Crescent Sighting Committee of Qatar's Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs also announced that February 18 is the first day of Ramadan.
The Presidential Court of the UAE stated that the crescent of Ramadan had been sighted and that February 18 is the first day of Ramadan.
Yemen's Ministry of Endowments and Guidance also declared this day – February 18 – as the first day of Ramadan.
The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, also announced that the first day of Ramadan falls on February 18.
In Iraq, the Sunni Endowment and the Ministry of Endowments of the Kurdistan Regional Government announced that the first day of Ramadan is February 18.
The Crescent Sighting Organization in Bahrain stated that no one had sighted the crescent, but that the sighting in Saudi Arabia had been legally confirmed, and therefore it was decided that February 18 would be the first day of Ramadan.
In Kuwait, the Crescent Sighting Organization announced that the new Moon had been sighted, and therefore February 18 would be the first day of Ramadan.
Lebanon's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdullatif Deryan also declared February 18 as the first day of Ramadan, citing that the crescent sighting had been confirmed "in many Arab and Islamic countries."
A.Qorxmaz
