Determining the Start of Ramadan: A Comprehensive Guide for 2023 and Beyond

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan marks a significant period in the religious calendar, following the sighting of the new moon. This year, the month will begin in the evening of Wednesday, March 22, 2023, and end in the evening of Thursday, April 20, 2023, in Saudi Arabia. However, the actual start date varies each year based on the lunar cycle.

Ramadan 2022 and 2023: Specific Dates and Sighting Cycles

In 2022, the month of Ramadan is expected to begin on Thursday, April 7th, provided the Shabang (new moon) is sighted on the previous evening. If the Shabang is not sighted on that evening, the first day of fasting will be on Friday, April 8th. The same rule applies to other regions, such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, with slight variations based on the number of days in the previous lunar month.

Saudi Arabia's Specific Sighting Rules

In Saudi Arabia, Ramadan 2023 is expected to begin on the evening of Wednesday, March 22, 2023, provided the Shabang is sighted on the previous evening. If not, the month will begin on Thursday, March 23, 2023. This rule applies similarly in South Asian regions.

Impact of Modern Factors on Ramadan Observance

While traditional Islamic practices like moon sighting determine the start of Ramadan, modern factors such as the ongoing Corona Virus (C19) pandemic have significantly impacted the observance of certain practices. For instance, communal congregational prayers at mosques may be postponed until further notice.

What to Expect This Year

Based on C19 guidelines, some communities in San Jose, California, have been advised to adapt their Ramadan practices. For instance, on May 5th, 2019, according to the schedule, the month of Ramadan was calculated to begin after sunset on that day. Thus, individuals in San Jose would have to fast from dawn till dusk on that day.

Lunar Calculation and Quranic Verses

According to Quranic verses, the sun and moon are calculation devices. This means that the phases of the moon, as well as the sunset, are crucial in determining the start of Ramadan. The following Quranic verses provide insight into this:

Surah An'am 6: 96: 'At the crack of dawn He causes the morning to emerge. He made the night still and He rendered the sun and the moon to serve as calculation devices. Such is the design of the Almighty the Omniscient.'

Surah Yasin 36: 40: 'The sun is never to catch up with the moon - the night and the day never deviate - each of them is floating in its own orbit.

These verses emphasize the importance of observing the moon and the sunset to determine the start of Ramadan. Therefore, even if one doesn't fully accept these instructions, the actual start of Ramadan is always determined based on these natural phenomena.

Global Observance Guide

Using the principles of lunar sighting and sunset times, individuals can calculate when Ramadan will begin and end in various parts of the world. For example, the New Moon for San Jose, California, on May 5th, 2019, was observed at 3:45 PM, and the sunset was at 7:59 PM. Since the New Moon was before sunset, the month of Ramadan began after the sunset of May 5th. Thus, fasting would commence the following day.

By following these principles, individuals can accurately determine the start of the month of Ramadan for any year, including forecasts for future years, such as January 27th, 2028, which marks the potential beginning of the month.

Peace. Through these calculations, we honor the teachings of the Quran and the historical traditions that have guided Muslims for centuries.