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Jeddah/Dubai: The holy month of Ramadan will begin
Monday August 01, in the Arabian Peninsula as the new moon could
not be sighted Saturday.
"The new lunar moon was not sighted at sunset Saturday evening.
Hence, the holy month of Ramadan will begin Monday August 01,
2011, announced the Royal Court of Saudi Arabia quoting the
Supreme Court Saturday", said a statement by the Royal Court of
Saudi Arabia quoting the Supreme Court.
Ramadan will also begin Monday in Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen, the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) and in other Gulf states.
Dr Hadef Bin Jua’an Al Daheri,
Minister of Justice UAE, said in a statement after the moon
committee’s meeting Saturday night that Monday will be the first
day of Ramadan.
Reports from Egypt, Lebanon, Kuwait and Qatar said the new moon
had not been sighted after sunset on Saturday, indicating that
Sunday would be regarded as the last day of the Muslim lunar month
preceding Ramadan.
In nearby Yemen, Ramadan will also start on Monday.
Muslims scan the sky at night in search of the new moon to
determine the start of Ramadan, the holiest month for the world’s
more than one billion Muslims, during which observant believers
fast from dawn to dusk.
Businesses and offices reduce opening hours during the day and
often re-open in the evenings.
Sweltering temperatures in the Gulf Arab countries and the length
of time between dawn and sunset will make Ramadan in August a
trying ritual for Muslims this year.
To help those fasting cope with the heat, Palestinian officials in
the West Bank and Gaza said they will push back the clock one
hour. That gives some psychological relief, making it seem as if
the time for breaking the fast is coming an hour earlier and
lengthening the evening hours.
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