Update 5.15.18: The earliest authentic new moon sighting received on May 15 was from Fullerton, California (USA) seen by four Muslims using optical aids ( moonsighting.com ), the first day of fasting will begin on Wednesday, May 16, 2018.

Update 5.15.18: Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Lebanon, Bahrain, Jordan and Iraq declared Ramadan would not begin Wednesday based on moon-sighting methodology. Accordingly, their first day of fasting will begin on Thursday, May 17, 2018. Muslims in Turkey, which follows astronomical calculations, will begin fasting on Wednesday, May 16, 2018.

4.12.2018: In the United States and Europe, most of the Muslim communities follow astronomical calculations, according to which the first day of fasting will be May 16, 2018, and Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated on June 15, 2018, Insha’Allah.

Most of the countries in the Middle East are expected to sight the new moon on May 15 and also start the first day of fasting on May 16, 2018.

Morocco, Iran, and Pakistan may see it on the following day on May 16.

You who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may be mindful of God.

Fast for a specific number of days, but if one of you is ill, or on a journey, on other days later. For those who can fast only with extreme difficulty, there is a way to compensate–– feed a needy person. But if anyone does good of his own accord, it is better for him, and fasting is better for you, if only you knew.

It was in the month of Ramadan that the Quran was revealed as guidance for mankind, clear messages giving guidance and distinguishing between right and wrong. So any one of you who is present that month should fast, and anyone who is ill or on a journey should make up for the lost days by fasting on other days later. God wants ease for you, not hardship. He wants you to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him for having guided you, so that you may be thankful. Quran 2:183-185

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

Stay tuned for Ramadan resources, Quran, Articles, Zakat and much more 

@ ISLAMICITY RAMADAN CENTER