Saudi Arabia announces the holy month of Ramadan to start on March 23
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Roshan Amiri
- . March 22, 2023
- . Update: March 22, 2023 4:56 pm
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), home of the holiest shrines in Islam in the holiest cities of Mecca and Medina, has announced that the holy month of Ramadan will start on March 23, Thursday.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques or Protector of the Two Holy Cities wrote on Twitter, “The Crescent for the month of Ramadan1444 was not Sighted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today. Subsequently, Thursday, 23rd March 2023, will be the first day of Ramadan 1444.”
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court also ruled on Tuesday evening that the Islamic Hijri calendar month of Shaban, which precedes Ramadan, will end on 22 March, indicating that the holiest month of Ramadan will begin the following day. However, the Ramadan crescent moon was not visible on Tuesday evening. The sighting committee also confirmed the date of Ramadan 2023 in Saudi Arabia.
According to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Saudi authorities called on Muslims in the country to try to spot the Ramadan crescent moon. Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court asked citizens to view the Ramadan crescent moon and notify the nearest court.
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The first Ramadan crescent marks the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. The last Ramadan crescent moon is the end of the holy month.
During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims across the world usually come to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to undertake Umrah or a small pilgrimage in the Grand Mosque in the holiest city of Mecca.
Many other countries have also announced March 23 as the first day of Ramadan 2023. Muslims globally fast from sunrise to sunset during the sacred month ofRamadan. They engage in different spiritual activities.
Ramadan, one of the pillars of Islam, is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting and prayer.
