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Rabat – Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court announced that the sighting of the Ramadan crescent moon will take place on the evening of Friday, April 1, 2022, corresponding to Sha’ban 29, 1443 AH.
The Court called on Muslims in Saudi Arabia to participate in the crescent moon sighting and urged whoever sights it to report to the nearest court and register their testimony.
The holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin in Saudi Arabia on Saturday April 2, according to the Arab Union for Astronomy. However, this could change depending on the sighting of the crescent moon.
Every year, Saudi Arabia’s moon sighting committee – made up of astronomers, court officials, and experts from the country’s Islamic authorities – gathers after sunset on the Sha’ban 29 to look for the new crescent moon. Ramadan begins the following day if it is discovered.
Ramadan, the Islamic calendar’s ninth month, lasts for one complete moon cycle, which is usually 29 or 30 days. The sighting of a crescent moon determines the duration.
Muslims use a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months in a year that lasts 354 or 355 days.
Saudi Arabia is considered the heartland of Islam. It is home to Makkah, the holiest city in Islam. Not only was it the birthplace of Prophet Mohammad, but also the location where he had his first revelation of the Quran.
For this reason, many countries follow Saudi Arabia’s announcement and moon sighting, especially those with a Muslim minority.
Ramadan will occur for the third time during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Saudi Arabia has eased a number of restrictions.
In the last two years, Saudi Arabia imposed restrictions on worshipers, such as night-time curfews and banning iftars, suhoors, and taraweeh evening prayers from being held in mosques.
The kingdom has recently lifted most of its remaining precautionary measures in all indoor and outdoor venues and events, as well as requirements to enter the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.
