Ramadaan 2019 begins today in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan
The beginning of Ramadan has traditionally been based on “hilal” sightings, which is the traditional method mentioned in the Quran and followed by the Prophet Muhammad.
A new month in the Islamic Calendar begins with the sighting of the moon on 29th of the prevailing month. If the new moon, Crescent, is sighted, the next day is counted as the first day of the new month. If not, the next day is counted as the 30th day of the prevailing month and the new month begins a day later.
Many parts of India and Pakistan started Monday as the first day of the holy month. While a Pakistani cleric declared Monday as the first day of Ramadan – going against the official moon-sighting committee’s decision – India too had its share of crescent confusion. Kerala, Ramadan began on Monday while the rest of India will observe the beginning of the holy month from May 7, reported TOI.
Sunday, May 05, 2019 09:45 pm New moon is not sighted today i.e. Sunday, May 05. Hence Monday will be 30th Shaban 1440H and the first day of Ramadan this year will be Tuesday, May 07, 2019, Imarat-e-Sharia, Jamiat Ulema Hind, New Delhi, India and Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, Pakistan announced in two separate statements.
Similar announcements were made by moon sighting committees in various parts of India including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Patna, Muzaffarpur, Kolkata, Mewat and Burhanpur.
The new moon of the month of Ramadan is sighted in Bangladesh Monday, May 06, 2019, corresponding to 29th of Shaban 1440H in the country. Hence, the holy month of fasting in Bangladesh will begin Tuesday, May 07, 2019, the Islamic Foundation, Baitul Mukarram national mosque announced after the moon sighting committee meeting held today.
India, Pakistan and other South Asian countries had announced yesterday that the first day of Ramadan in these countries will be Tuesday, May 07, 2019. Wifaq ul Ulama, London also announced that the first day of Ramadan 2019 in the United Kingdom will be Tuesday, May 07, 2019. On the other hand, the holy month of fasting began in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and other Arab states, and also in the United States, Canada and Australia today i.e. Monday, May 06, 2019.
Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai, a controversial self-imposed cleric from Peshawar’s historic Masjid Qasim Ali Khan, declared Monday to be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan even when there were no reports of the crescent being sighted on Sunday.
According to Geo.tv, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman, Mufti Munibur Rehman, said at a press conference the Ramadan crescent was not sighted and that the first day of Ramdan will be on Tuesday, May 7. However, Popalzai made the declaration claiming his decision was based on 22 pieces of evidence gathered by the mosque.
Except for Oman, the rest of the Gulf countries announced the beginning of Ramadan on May 6 after the moon was sighted in Saudi Arabia and UAE on Sunday.
More than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world will mark the month, during which believers abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and having marital relations from dawn until sunset. They also try to avoid evil thoughts and deeds during the holy month. Ramadan is sacred to Muslims because tradition says the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) during that month. It is followed by the Eid al-Fitr festival.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five obligatory pillars of Islam, along with the Muslim declaration of faith, daily prayer, annual charity — known as “zakat” — and performing the Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah. Meanwhile, special preparations are also on in the Muslim world for Salate Taraveeh – the special night prayers offered in the month of Ramadan besides daily prayers five times a day. Muslims around the world are making special arrangements for Iftar – the meal to break the fast, so that poor Muslims don’t suffer.
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