The sighting of the crescent moon in Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening marks the start of Ramadan, the Holy month observed by Muslims around the world. This is the most important time of the year for Muslims, and many will fast, pray, and celebrate the month with family and friends.
The crescent moon spotted on Sunday signifies that the Islamic month of Sha’ban has ended, and Ramadan begins on Monday, March 11. Ramadan follows a lunar schedule, meaning that its start and end dates are determined by the sighting of the crescent moon.
The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia had encouraged Muslims to look out for the crescent moon and report its sighting to the nearest court. This is because the crescent moon signals the start of Ramadan, and its sighting is an important part of the Islamic tradition. The court had asked for all observations to be reported promptly.
While Saudi Arabia sighted the crescent moon on Sunday, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei have decided to begin Ramadan on March 12. This is because the moon was not visible in those countries on Sunday, and the Islamic calendar depends on the sighting of the crescent moon. As a result, the start date of Ramadan varies from country to country.