Start of Ramadan 2020 (1441 AH)

The Muslim feast of the holy month of Ramadan Kareem (photo: iStock by Getty Images).

Category: Faith & Spirituality, Featured, Highlights Topics: Announcement, Ramadan Channel: Ramadan, Ramadan - Day 1 Views: 29063
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Arabia

According to Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court the first day of fasting will be Friday, April 24, 2020.

Ramadan 2020 will start on Friday April 24, Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court announced on Thursday.  The holy month this year will be markedly different to previous ones as the coronavirus pandemic has stopped much of the world’s activities, including at places of worship.

( Source: Arab News )


North America

According to Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) first day of fasting will be Friday, April 24, 2020.

The Fiqh Council of North America recognizes astronomical calculation as an acceptable Shar’i method for determining the beginning of Lunar months including the months of Ramadan and Shawwal.  FCNA uses the criteria of European Council of Fatwa and Research (ECFR), which are that somewhere on the globe, at the sunset, the elongation should be at least 8 degrees and moon should be at least 5 degrees above horizon. If these conditions are met, the new crescent will be visible somewhere on earth. Hence the new lunar month will start the next day, otherwise it will start on the day following next day.

On the basis of this method the dates of Ramadan and Eidul Fitr for the year 1441 AH are established as follows:

Ramadan 1441 AH:

The Astronomical New Moon is on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 2:27 Universal Time. On that day, everywhere in North and South America at sunset the elongation is at least 8 degrees and moon is at least 5 degrees above the sun. Therefore, first day of Ramadan 1441 is on Friday, April 24, 2020, insha’Allah. Tarawih prayer will start on Thursday night.

Eid ul-Fitr 1441 AH:

The Astronomical New Moon is on Friday, May 22, 2020 at 17:40 Universal Time. On that day there is no place on earth where at sunset the elongation is 8 degrees and moon is 5 degrees above the sun. Therefore Shawwal 1441 cannot start the next day. Hence first day of Shawwal is on Sunday, May 24, 2020, insha’Allah.

( Source: Fiqh Council of North America )


Europe

According to European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) first day of fasting will be Friday, April 24, 2020.

The accurate astronomical calculations for the crescent of Ramadan for the year 1441 AH confirm that the conjugation will be at 02 and 26 minutes according to UTC (GMT) from Thursday, 23 April 2020 AD corresponding to 30 Shaaban 1441 AH, which corresponds to 05:26 local time in Mecca.

The crescent can be seen in a large area of the Americas with the naked eye, as it can be seen in the African continent with astronomical observations, and the blessed month of Ramadan will be on 24th of April 2020, insah'Allah.

For the moon of Shawwal Hilal for the year 1441 AH - 2020 AD

The accurate astronomical calculations for the crescent moon of Shawwal for the year 1441 AH confirm that the conjugation will be at 17:39 according to UTC (Greenwich Mean Time) from Friday, 22 May 2020 AD corresponding to 29 Ramadan 1441 AH, which corresponds to 20:39 local time in Mecca Al Mukarramah.

Therefore, it is impossible to see the crescent after sunset on Friday, and it can be seen on Saturday, May 23 in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and most of Europe, and thus the month of Ramadan will be thirty full days. Accordingly the first of Shawwal (Eid Al-Fitr) will be on 24th of May 2020, insha'Allah.

( Source: European Council for Fatwa and Research )


Australia

According to Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) the first day of fasting will be Friday, April 24, 2020.

The sun will set on Thursday the 23rd of April at 5:22 pm (Sydney local time) and the moon will appear on the same day after sunset for 19 minutes until 5:41 pm where it will disappear thereafter from the Horizon. In the city of Perth, Western Australia, the sun will set on Thursday at 5:46 pm (Perth local time) and the moon will appear on the same day after sunset for 22 minutes until 6:08 pm where it will disappear thereafter from the Horizon. This allows for ample time to sight the moon under normal conditions with the absence of all that hinders the moon from being sighted.  Therefore the Holy Month of Ramadan for this year (1441H - 2020) will commence on Friday, 24th of April 2020.

( Source: Australian National Imams Council )


Asia

According to The Keeper of the Rulers' Seal of Malaysia the first day of fasting will be Friday, April 24, 2020.

Muslims in Malaysia will usher in the holy month of Ramadan on Friday, April 24.

The Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, Datuk Seri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, according to Bernama, announced that the date for the start of Ramadan fasting has been fixed for tomorrow (Friday), as decreed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after receiving the consent of the Malay rulers.

He added that the Council of Rulers had agreed that the way to fix the date for the beginning of the fast will be based on "rukyah and hisab” (sighting of the new moon and astronomical calculations).

( Source: New Straits Times )


Africa

According to Islamic Dar Al-Iftaa, Egypt the first day of fasting will be Friday, April 24, 2020.

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan will start in Egypt on Friday, the Islamic Dar Al-Iftaa has announced.

( Source: Ahram Online )


Global Moon Sighting for Ramadan 1441

The earliest reported sighting of the new crescent was on April 23 from Goodyear AZ, and San Diego CA.

The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on April 23, 2020 (Thursday) at 2:26 UT. On that day, the moon may be seen in North, South, and Central America. On April 24, the moon can be seen in almost the whole world easily (Click here to see visibility curves and the earliest authentic moon sighting reports when information is received).

( Source: Moonsighting )


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


Ramadan Resources

Ramadan Prayer Times, Quran, Taraweeh, Zakat and More
ISLAMICITY RAMADAN CENTER

World Wide Ramadan Prayer Times

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Live & Recorded Taraweeh from Makkah

Quran Search & Resources

Zakat Calculator

Health and Ramadan

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  Category: Faith & Spirituality, Featured, Highlights
  Topics: Announcement, Ramadan  Channel: Ramadan, Ramadan - Day 1
Views: 29063

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