Public urged to look for crescent moon on Sunday

AMMAN — Jordanians will look for the crescent moon at sunset on Sunday, which means that the fasting month of Ramadan will begin either Monday or Tuesday, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Chief Islamic Justice Ahmad Hilayel on Wednesday called on Sharia courts to remain open on Sunday evening and invited several officials to join a ceremony at the Chief Islamic Justice Department to look for the crescent moon, which marks the beginning of the fasting month. 

If the sighting is confirmed, Muslims in Jordan will start fasting on Monday. Otherwise, Ramadan will begin on Tuesday. 

In accordance with Islam, sighting the crescent at dusk on the evening of the 29th of Shaban (the eighth month of the Islamic lunar calendar known as Hijri) is the only way to determine the beginning of Ramadan. 

The Hijri calendar’s months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted.

The same applies to the end of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. Scholars and experts meet on the 29th of the month to decide, depending on if the crescent is sighted or not,, whether to complete 30 days of fasting or announce Eid Al Fitr, the feast marking the end of fasting.