By NNN-KUNA,
Kuwait : The Muslim holy month of Ramadan (of the Arabic lunar calendar) will start on Sept 1 in some Muslim countries and Sept 2 in other countries, Adel Al-Sa’doon, a Kuwaiti astronomer said here.
Debate renews in Muslim countries every year with the approach of Ramadan on the exact date of its commencement, he said in a statement to KUNA Tuesday.
The emergence of the new moon in each country decides the start of Ramadan in a scientific way, he noted.
According to the provisions of Islam, all countries sharing part of the night when the crescent was seen by the bare eye can start fasting in the following day, Al-Sa’doon pointed out, citing a speech by Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be upon Him).
The moon will eclipse the sun on Saturday, Aug 30 at 10.58 pm (Kuwaiti time), so there is impossible to see the new moon that evening, he asserted.
On the following evening, of Sunday, Aug 31, the new moon will go down at 6.26 pm, or 15 minutes after the sunset in Kuwait.
However, it is unlikely to see the new moon that evening in Kuwait and other Arab countries whether with the bare eye or otherwise.
In Mauritania, the new moon could be seen only by telescopes as it will shine there for 12 minutes, he added.