determining the beginning of the month of ramadan. Learn Islam for converts and beginners for free. Information about the Muslim religion. Sunni Muslim website. Islam.ms.

Determining Beginning Date of Ramadan 2024 / 1445H

The beginning of the month of Ramadan, as well as the end of the month, is determined by sighting the crescent. If the crescent was not sighted, then the month would be completed by thirty days, as is the case with determining all the months of the lunar calendar. This is taken from the Hadîth of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلّم related by Al-Bukhâriyy and Muslim: « لا تَقَدَّمُوا رَمَضانَ بِيَومٍ أَوْ يَومَين صُوموا لرؤيتِه وأفطِرُوا لرُؤيتِه فإنْ غُمَّ علَيكم فأكْمِلوا عِدَّةَ شَعبانَ ثلاثينَ يوما », which means: « Do not fast one or two days before Ramaḍān. Start the month when you see the crescent, and end it when you see the crescent. If you are blocked from seeing it, then complete thirty days of Sha`bân. »

How to fast the month of Ramadan. Integrals & Invalidators of Fasting

The obligation on the believers of fasting RamaDân is known from the Qur’ân and the Hadîth. It was explicitly stated in Verse 183 of Surat Al-Baqarah: {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ} which means: « O believers, Fasting is an obligation upon you as it was ordained upon the (Muslim nations) before you–to help you become pious. » Fasting was an obligation upon the nations before the nation of Prophet Muḥammad peace to be upon him, however, fasting the month of RamaDân in particular is a specification for the nation of Prophet Muḥammad peace to be upon him only.