The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has sighted the crescent moon for the 2024 holy month of Ramadan.
This is according to the Saudi Supreme Court on Sunday evening, March 10, 2024.
With the sighting of the moon on Sunday evening, the Ramadan fasting will begin on Monday, March 11, 2024.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia had called on Muslims to sight the crescent of the holy month of Ramadan. The Supreme Court called on whoever sights the crescent – either by the naked eye or through binoculars – to report to the nearest court and register their observation.
Several other countries have already announced March 12 as the beginning of Ramadan, including Australia, Malaysia, Philippines and Brunei.
Meanwhile, the moon is yet to be sighted in Nigeria as of press time. Sultan of Sokoto who is the president of the Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) had asked Muslims across the country to look out for the moon later in the day.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar, holds profound significance for Muslims worldwide. Throughout this holy month, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, refraining from both food and drink, including water, during daylight hours.
Fasting is deeply personal, serving as a means of drawing closer to God, fostering spiritual discipline, and cultivating empathy for the less fortunate.
