dak4.com - Ramadan 1426?

Monday, October 03, 2005

When does Ramadan start?

The crescent moon signals the start of the monthlong holiday, and it will be up to the Plainfield headquarters of the Islamic Society of North America to formally determine for Muslims in this part of the world whether tonight's moon is the real deal.

[ Muslims turn eyes to sky to start Ramadan | IndyStar.com ]

ISNA and the Fiqh Council of North America should be discussing that exact topic this evening. Chances are, based on fancy math, that the Hilal (cresent moon) will not be seen tonight, and Ramadan will start at sunset tomorrow.

If you are itching to find out before everyone else on your block, check out:

Even more confused by when the days start? Heard that Ramadan starts Tuesday, but your co-worker didn't fast? Keep in mind that days on the Islamic calendar start at sunset, and not midnight. Curious about what is prohibited to a fasting Muslim during Ramadan? Wikipedia to the rescue.

Update: For Northern Virginia, it seems that all of the "big" mosques (or at least the ones with websites that are updated) agree, the first day of fasting is Wednesday:

Monday, October 03, 2005 8:15:23 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Comments [2] -
holiday | islam

Tuesday, October 04, 2005 8:53:25 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Hey I just stumbled on this page lol.

Just to let you know... Sunni and Doorzi muslims are fasting today (Tuesday) while the Sheia are fasting tomorrow. So it just happens that the big mosques you checked with where all Sheia.

P.S: Muslims are divided into 3 : Sunni, Sheia, and Dorooz.

Moka

Tuesday, October 04, 2005 9:10:16 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

I'm not sure where you get your information from, but I know for a fact that neither one of those mosques is "Shia". Nor is ISNA, or the Fiqh Council of North America.

I'm not sure where you are located, but there are certainly differences of opinion throughout the North American Muslim community. Some mosques are supported and attended by Muslims from one country or culture, and (IMHO incorrectly) fast with their countries rules. Other mosques will refute no moon sightings, siting a hadith where the Prophet (peace and blessing of God be upon him) based the beginning of Ramadan on a report from a Muslim, which he didn't seem to know, without questioning it at all.

Personally, I am not a scholar who is equipped to debate the "what counts as the Hilal" conundrum.

Oh, and I've never heard of the "Dorooz" unless that is an alternate spelling of "Druze" but since their not Muslim, that would seem confusing. And, there are many other divisions in the Muslim world besides the Sunni/Shia debate.

One last thing, in case it isn't obvious, yes I am Muslim.

Kearns

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