Failure to see new moon, Ramadan starts Sunday for most Arab, African nations
by AA
CAIROJun 28, 2014 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by AA
Jun 28, 2014 12:00 am
Sunday has been declared the first day of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan in most Arab and African nations because the new moon was not sighted on Friday.
Sighting the new crescent moon is essential for the start of any month in the Islamic lunar calendar.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain all announced that Ramadan would begin on Sunday after the new moon was not sighted.
A similar announcement was made by religious authorities in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Sudan, the Palestinian Authority, Somalia, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Eritrea and Djibouti.
Yemen, along with Lebanese Shia Muslims, will start fasting on Saturday, while Lebanese Sunnis will observe the holy month as of Sunday.
Iraqi Sunnis, for their part, will begin fasting on Sunday, while the country's Shias will wait until Saturday to sight the new moon.
Ramadan will also start Saturday in Ivory Coast.
During Ramadan, Muslims must abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset.
Throughout the course of the fasting month, Muslims are urged to perform extra prayers, especially at night; recite the Quran; give to the poor; and refrain from misbehavior
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