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Join on Telegram Rabat – Malaysia is expected to announce Thursday, March 23 as the first day of Ramadan 2023, according to the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM.)
Indian English-language daily newspaper the Hindustan Times reported that Malaysia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Iran, Pakistan, South Africa, and Indonesia will most likely sight the Ramadan moon on the evening of March 22.
“The first fasting day of Ramadan for them will be March 23,” the news outlet said, stressing that if the crescent moon was not sighted, the first day of Ramadan would be from March 24 in India and other South Asian countries.
Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk for 29 to 30 days throughout the month of Ramadan, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon.
According to Malaysia’s Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) approximately 60% of the country’s population –which stands at 28 million– are Muslim, “Islam is constitutionally the country’s official religion, with the freedom to practice other religions,” ITC said.
Other countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Algeria, Singapore, Turkiye, and India are also expected to announce Thursday, March 23 as the first day of Ramadan 2023.
Meanwhile, the Muslim community in Germany is expected to observe the first day of Ramadan on March 22.
Morocco is expected to carry out the crescent moon sighting for Ramadan on the evening of Wednesday, March 22.
Many astronomers believe that Morocco will also start fasting during Ramadan on March 23.
Read Also: March 23 to Mark First Day of Ramadan 2023 in Singapore
