More dates have been declared for the holy month of fasting this year
The start dates for Ramadan 2025 have been declared in more countries around the world, including Pakistan and India.
In Pakistan, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee convened in Peshawar on Friday, February 28, to consider reports coming in from across the nation and determine whether the Ramadan moon had been sighted.
It was announced in a press conference that the new crescent moon had not been sighted anywhere in Pakistan, which means that the first day of Ramadan will be observed on Sunday, March 2.
READ MORE:
Moonsighting committees in many of the major cities, including Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, also held meetings to assess local reports before the central committee made the final pronouncement.
Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) used digital telescopes to help look for the crescent.
However, it had previously predicted that Ramadan would begin on Sunday, based on calculations of the moon’s minimal visibility.
At sunset in Karachi, the moon’s age would be just 12 hours, with a moon-sun angular separation of only five degrees.
Experts say the new moon should be at least 19 hours old for a sufficient crescent to have formed so that it’s visible.
Pakistan’s Met Office said that atmospheric conditions would further hinder chances of spotting the first slim crescent of the new moon. “Due to cloudy weather, the chance of sighting the Ramadan moon is low,” it said.
The moon was also not seen anywhere in India on February 28, meaning that it will also start the first day of Ramadan on Sunday, March 2.
The Hindustan Times said: “Muslims in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Malaysia and other South Asian countries usually sight the crescent of the holy month a day later than Saudi Arabia, depending on local moon sightings.
“However, this year, in the rarest of the rare moments, Muslims across the world are gearing up to see the new moon of Ramadan on the same night.”
That was because Shaban, the month before Ramadan, began on the same day across the globe as moonsighting declarations aligned everywhere.
The Delhi-based newspaper confirmed: “Since the crescent was not visible tonight, Ramadan will begin [in India] from tomorrow evening i.e. after maghrib prayers on March 1, 2025, in accordance with Islamic tradition.
“Muslims will offer taraweeh prayers on the night of March 1 after Isha prayers while the first fast will be observed on March 2, 2025.”
Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp. Join our dedicated community for the most up-to-date news from across the city.
You can also sign up to our Brummie Muslims newsletter for the latest updates on Ramadan, Eid and key dates throughout the Islamic calendar.