Ibrahim Al Jarwan, the esteemed chairman of the Emirates Astronomy Society, has forecast that the crescent moon marking the beginning of Ramadan 2025 will appear on Friday, February 28, 2025.
If the crescent moon is sighted on the evening of February 28, the first day of fasting will be on March 1. However, if the moon is not sighted until the evening of March 1, fasting will commence on March 2. This estimation places the holy month 11 days earlier in the Gregorian calendar compared to this year’s Ramadan.
Understanding the Lunar Calendar
The start of Ramadan shifts approximately 11 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar due to the shorter Islamic Hijri lunar calendar, which consists of 12 months of 29 or 30 days each. This lunar year also determines the Islamic zakat year, known as a hawl. Ramadan begins at maghrib (sunset), and Muslims begin their taraweeh prayers after isha salah on the night of February 28 or March 1, with fasting starting at dawn the following day.
Moon-Sighting Tradition
The exact start of Ramadan can vary each year due to differing interpretations and methods used to sight the new moon. While some scholars use calculations based on the moon’s orbit to predict Ramadan’s start well in advance, the traditional method involves sighting the new crescent with the naked eye in the western sky immediately after sunset. The visibility of the new crescent moon, a thin waxing crescent, occurs when the moon has moved sufficiently out of direct alignment with the sun and Earth, allowing the sun to illuminate a sliver of it. This crescent is visible for only a few minutes before setting.
Eid al-Fitr 2025 Dates
The end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid al-Fitr 2025 will depend on the sighting of the crescent moon and whether Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days. If Ramadan starts on February 28, Eid al-Fitr could fall on March 29 or 30. If it begins on March 1, Eid al-Fitr may be on March 30 or 31. As the Islamic world awaits the sighting of the moon, the precise dates for Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 2025 will be confirmed closer to the time, reflecting the traditional and calculated methods used to determine these significant events.
News Source: Gulf Business
