Angel of Death Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 As Ramadan 2024 approaches, the question of whether the crescent moon has been seen or not becomes a lively debate for Muslims worldwide as well as astronomers. It's thought that people will be out looking for the moon either on Sunday, March 10, or Monday, March 11, to determine the start of Ramadan 2024. Early signs suggest that Ramadan 2024 will start on March 12 and one Birmingham mosque has already produced a timetable of prayer and meal times based on this date. However, in Saudi Arabia, the holy month of fasting might begin a day earlier, as their national calendar marks March 11 as the starting point. The issue has gained so much momentum that Noor TV, a Birmingham-based channel watched in over 180 countries, holds regular announcements on when each of the Islamic months will begin. The Islamic broadcaster has its own moonsighting board and is part of a nationwide network of organisations that work together to agree on dates. READ MORE: When last 10 days of Ramadan 2024 will be including key date for Laylat al-Qadr Birmingham Ramadan markets to have 'nightly police patrols' for the first time Dr Zahid Nawaz, a Midlands-based moonsighting spokesperson and former adviser to the British Science Association, has been part of these announcements for over 25 years. He explains that decisions are made once they're sure the crescent moon has been sighted in a location that aligns with the UK time zone. This could be either the UK itself or its closest Islamic neighbour, Morocco. Dr Nawaz told BirminghamLive: "We do rely on astronomical calculations as a secondary source. However, these calculations are purely a prediction and cannot be treated as reality, because reality only manifests itself naturally when the crescent moon is actually sighted. "I can predict that this year we are likely to have two dates for Ramadan as some Muslims follow Saudi announcements whilst others rely on actual verified moonsighting in their own or nearby locations. There is no possibility of receiving and verifying any credible moonsighting reports on March 10, 2024, as the moon's angular position and height above the horizon is not sufficient for it be to seen in our designated zones. "With this in mind, Noor TV and its moonsighting board led by Pir Noor ul Arifeen Siddiquee will be deliberating in a live programme on the 10th but early indications are that Ramadan is likely to commence on March 12, 2024." He added that the practice of sighting the crescent moon should be fun and an enjoyable experience but has unfortunately become the subject of intense debate and disagreements. He said: "As I look ahead, I can see the younger generation who are well acquainted with scientific principles will reject the concept of following countries whose time zones do not match with the UK time zone." Here are the astronomical forecasts for the moon being sighted in locations including Saudi Arabia, Morocco and the UK. They indicate that it won't be possible to get a glimpse of the crescent on March 10 and this seems to confirm Ramadan starting on March 12. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/ramadan-2024-moonsighting-update-uk-28738922 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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