The holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin either today or over the weekend once the crescent moon is seen, with millions worldwide waiting to find out
Muslims worldwide are waiting to discover if the holy month of Ramadan is about to begin – and they could find out tonight.
The month of Ramadan is the holiest month of the Islamic year and marks the time when the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims around the world mark the occasion by fasting during daylight hours when they abstain from eating, drinking or engaging in sexual relations during the duration of the fast.
Ramadan is expected to be declared for 2025 today and astronomers across the world will be looking out for the crescent moon, signifying it has begun. Muslims in the UK will be looking towards local astronomers, as well as those in Saudi Arabia and Morocco, the UK’s nearest Islamic country.
If some countries are able to see the moon and others are not, it means that the month could start on different dates. Royal Greenwich Observatory in South London is hosting a live show trying to spot the crescent moon from around 5.45pm.
Lasting 29 to 30 days, it is regarded to be one of the Five Pillars of Islam – but its ‘start date’ changes each year as the Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles, not the Gregorian calendar. The other pillars include Zakat (charity), Salat (prayer), Hajj (pilgrimage), Sawm (fasting during Ramadan) and Shahadah (a declaration of faith).
Ramadan ends either after sighting the new crescent moon that indicates the arrival of the 10th month or after Ramadan’s 30th day.
During Ramadan, Muslims are likely to be waking up earlier in the morning for Suhoor and fasting during daylight hours. As a result, this may affect their productivity levels throughout the day, particularly during the end of the day when they may be most tired.
For many Muslims this can be most difficult during the first 10-days of fasting, as it takes time to adjust to the new routine. There are many reasons why someone may not fast during Ramadan, such as during pregnancy , illness, or travel. Women also do not fast whilst on their period and may not want to publicly disclose that to everyone.
For those keen on leaving the moon-spotting to the professionals, here are their predictions for when the moon will be visible in locations such as Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and the UK:
Mecca, Saudi Arabia (operates three hours ahead of the UK)
Friday, February 28: Will need optical aid. Sunset: 18:25, Moonset: 18:58. Saturday, March 1: Easily visible. Sunset: 18:25, Moonset: 20:00
Rabat, Morocco (will be on UK time when the Ramadan moon is seen)
Friday, February 28: May need optical aid. Sunset: 18:23, Moonset: 19:08. Saturday, March 1: Easily visible. Sunset: 18:24, Moonset: 20:18
Dakhla, north-west Africa (This location shares the same time zone as Morocco)
Friday, February 28: Visible in perfect conditions. Sunset: 19:06, moonset: 19:50. Saturday, March 1: Easily visible. Sunset: 19:07, Moonset 20:53.
London, UK
Friday, February 28: Will need optical aid. Sunset: 17:40, Moonset: 18:29. Saturday, March 1: Easily visible. Sunset: 17:41, Moonset: 19:58.