Over 400 million African Muslims will join other Muslims across the world to commence Ramadan tomorrow Saturday April 2, 2022.
This follows the sighting of the sighting of the crescent moon of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia and other locations in the world as telescopes lined up at observatories to scan the blue skies for the first hint of the crescent of the new moon.
Next came reports that the moon has been sighted in Sudair, Saudi Arabia. Islamic days run from sunset to sunset, therefore Ramadan is technically starting tonight. But the first full day, with fasting, prayers and the two meals of suhoor and iftar, will be tomorrow, Saturday, April 2.
Mufti of Kenya Mufti Omar Abubakar, in a press conference asked Muslim faithfuls to look out for the crescent moon on Friday. “In the event that the moon is not sighted, then the thirty days of Shaaban will be completed and Ramadan then commences on Sunday,” he said.
Western Capeโs Muslim community in South Africa will get to the Signal Hilll and Three Anchor Bay on Friday evening to observe the annual Ramadan moonsighting.
First deputy president and senior hilaal (or moon) committee member Moulana Abdul Khaliq Allie explained, โIndeed it is the peak season of spirituality and we also understand that it has a deep meaning for the broader society because in this particular month of Ramadan, we are taught of beautiful and divine lessons of compassion and kindness and reaching out.โ
In a related development, the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) announced that Australians should commence fasting tomorrow Saturday April 2, 2022.
There is yet to be an announcement on commencement of Ramadan in Nigeria, but on Thursday, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Saโad Abubakar, asked Muslims to be on the look out for the moon.
According to Islamic tradition, the new moon must be sighted with the naked eye in order to mark the commencement of Ramadan. In the event the moon is not sighted, the thirty days of Shaaban becomes the indicator for the start of the Muslim fast month of Ramadan.
