Rabat – Abdelhafid Bani, President of the Association Astronomy of Rabat said that Ramadan will begin on April 3 in Morocco.
Bani shared the center’s astronomy forecast on his Facebook, saying that the evening of Friday, April 1 corresponds to Sha’ban 29 -the eight month of the Islamic calendar.
The astronomer said it will not be possible to see the crescent moon with the naked eye from Morocco.
“Accordingly, and based on astronomical calculation, Sha’ban will last 30 days,” Bani emphasized, stressing that observing the crescent moon will only be possible on the last day of Sha’ban.
The official starting date of Ramadan is yet to be confirmed by Morocco’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs astronomers.
Bani’s astronomy calculations are in line with the forecast Moroccan astronomer Hicham Aissaoui shared recently.
In his forecast, Aissaoui also predicted that Ramadan will last 29 days for the fifth year in a row in Morocco.
Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, lasts for 29 or 30 days. The holy month is one of the holiest events in Islam.
Muslims observe Ramadan with strict fasting from dawn to sunset, abstaining from drinking any liquids, smoking, eating food, chewing gum, or engaging in any sexual activity.
Taking medication is also prohibited during the fasting hours and only people with chronic diseases and prescriptions from doctors are exempt. Children are only encouraged to begin fasting once they reach puberty.
As part of cultural traditions, some children observe some days of Ramadan, including in Laylat Al Qadr also known as the Night of Decree.
Laylat Al Kasr is when Muslims celebrate the night on which God first revealed the Quran to Prophet Muhammad.
Ramadan is not only about fasting, it is also about Muslims engaging in mediation through prayer. During Ramadan, Muslims observe special prayers called Taraweeh, extra evening prayers.
Taraweeh are performed at mosques following al Isha (night) prayer. However, it remains to be seen whether Morocco will allow Taraweeh at mosques this year.
Since 2020 Morocco has prohibited Taraweeh prayers at mosques to prevent COVID-19 spread.
Astronomer Aissaoui also shared his calculations, predicting the Eid Al Fitr date for May 2.
Eid Al Fitr marks the end of Ramadan.
Nearly two billion Muslims observe Ramadan annually.
