Holy month of Ramadan begins in Maldives
In many countries, witnesses who claim to have sighted the moon report their observations to a committee of religious scholars or astronomer.
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By
Azhaar Abdul Azeez
As the crescent moon graces the night sky this Sunday, marking the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, Atoll Times wishes all of our readers and those observing this sacred time, Ramadan Mubarak!
Traditionally, sighting the crescent moon with the naked eye is a crucial part of determining the start of Ramadan, despite calendars.
People gather after sunset on the 29th of Sha’ban (the month preceding Ramadan) and look westward towards the horizon. The new crescent moon is only visible shortly after sunset.
The crescent needs to be thin and faint, and it must be positioned a certain distance (known as the Danjon Limit) away from the sun in the sky.
In many countries, witnesses who claim to have sighted the moon report their observations to a committee of religious scholars or astronomers, and once this has been verified, the country will declare the first of Ramadan.
Astrologers and astronomers both contribute with technology and science to predict when the crescent will be visible. This helps avoid discrepancies in start dates across regions.
In the Maldives, the committee late Sunday declared the beginning of Ramadan from Monday. As one of the few countries in the world with a 100 percent Muslim population, the holy month welcomes a unique setting in the island nation.
The about 300,000 strong Sunni Muslim population observes Ramadan with age old traditions and community bonding, especially in the Atolls.
