New Delhi/Mumbai: Ramadan moon has been sighted in various parts of India including Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Jhakrkhand today i.e. Monday evening, Shaaban 29, 1437 AH, corresponding to June 06, 2016.
Following the moon sighting reports coming from different parts of India, various Hilal Committees have announced that Ramadan will begin in India from Tuesday June 07, 2016.
Ramadan moon has also been sighted in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Hence it is declared that tomorrow Tuesday will be the first day of Ramadan in both the countries.
"Ramzan moon has beeen sighted in Pakistan. First day of fasting will be on Tuesday (June 7, 2016) as the Central Ruehiyet-E-Hilal committee met to witness the moon", The Nation reported on Monday.
"Muslims in Bangladesh will start fasting from Tuesday as the Ramadan moon has been sighted. Religious Affairs Minister Motior Rahaman made the announcement on Monday", bdnews24.com said in a report.
"Those in Dhaka will have to eat ‘Sehri’ between 3:38 am and 3:44 am. They will stop fasting and eat ‘Iftar’ on 6:47 pm", the report said further.
In Malegaon, North Maharashtra, the new moon has been sighted by the masses. After verifying the moon reports, Jamiat Ulema Malegaon announced that tomorrow i.e. Tuesday will be the first day of Ramadan.
"I saw, and everybody with me saw, the Ramadan moon today evning after Maghrib prayers", Abdur Rasheed, a worshipper, outisde Jama Masjid Motipura, said while talking to ummid.com.
Markazi Ruyat e Hilal Committee Mumbai has also confirmed sighting of moon on Monday. Accordingly, it has declared that the first day of Ramadan will be Tuesday June 007, 2016.
Ramadan moon is also sighted iIn Begusarai, and other parts of Bihar and Jharkhand, local Ruyat e Hilal Committee, said on Monday.
"Ramadan moon has been sighted in Begusarai today evening i.e. Monday June 6, 2016. The first day of Ramadan will be therefore Tuesday June 07", Mufti Muhammand Khalid Qasmi, local Hilal Committee Chief said while talking to ummid.com on phone.
Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Assam are the states where sunset time and hence Magrib prayers is earlier than other parts of India. These states were first to announce Ramadan moon today evening.
"The sunset time in Begusarai as on today was 06:40 pm", Mufti Khalid said.
Ramadan moon has also been sighted in Chennai and other parts of the state including Chennai. Accordingly, the first day of Ramadan here will be Tuesday June 7, Chief Kazi announced.
Reports of moon sighting have also been received from Delhi, Patna, Dhanbad and other adjoining areas. Relying on these reports, Imarat-e-Shariah Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand, and Bihar Riyasati Ruyat e Hilal Committe in seperate statements announced that tomorrow Tuesday will be the first day of Ramadan.
"Tomorrow, Tuesday June 7, 2016, will be the first day of Ramadan in India", Jama Masjid Delhi Imam Ahmed Bukhari said.
The Ramadan moon has also been sighted in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Following these reports Hilal Committees in Hyderabad and other parts in the twin states have announced that Tuesday June 7 will be the first day of Ramadan.
Earlier, various Ruyat e Hilal Committees - the Moon Sighting Committees, in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other countries in the Sub-continent urged the Muslims to sight the Crescent of the blessed month of Ramadan today i.e. Monday evening, Shaaban 29, 1437 AH, corresponding to June 06, 2016.
"Appeals have been issued using various means to Muslims in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telanaga and other states to sight for the Crescent today evening", Mumbai Ruyat e Hilal Committee office said.
"The Hilal Committees will meet after Maghrib prayers today i.e. Monday to verify and assess moon sighting reports coming from different parts of the country", the office said.
"Accordingly, it will be decided if the first day of Ramadan in India is tomorrow i.e. Tuesday or Wednesday", the office added.
Accroding to the local media reports, similar appeals were also issued by the Ruyat e Hilal Committees - the Moon Sighting Committees, in Pakistan, Bangaldesh, Sri Lanka and other neighboring countries.
The beginning of Ramadan has traditionally been based on “hilal” sightings, which is the traditional method mentioned in the Quran and followed by the Prophet Muhammad.
As per this tradition, a new month in Islamic Calendar begins with sighting of moon on 29th of the prevailing month. If the new moon, Crescent, is sighted, the next day is counted as first day of the next month. If not, the next day is counted as 30th day of the prevailing month and the new month begins thereafter.
The Ramdan moon was sighted in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and other Gulf states, except Oman, yesterday. Accordingly, the first day of Ramadan in these countries is Monday June 06.
In a statement issued late in the evening Sunday, the Moon Sighting Committee in Oman said the moon was not sighted and therefore the fasting month in Oman will begin Tuesday
In a statement issued Sunday late in the evening, the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia declared Monday, June 6, 2016, as the first month of Ramadan. The highest court said it made the decision after validating reports of sightings of the Ramadan crescent moon.
Ramadan moon has been sighted in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait therefore Monday, June 6, will be the first day of the holy month in the Kingdom and other Arab States, Al Arabiya News Channel reported on Sunday.
The UAE, Jordan and the Palestinian territories have also confirmed seeing the Ramadan moon crescent and declared Monday as the first day of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims, the report said.
Muslims in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and other European countries rely on moon sighting announcements by Saudi Supreme Court, and begins Ramadan with Arab States.
After moon sighthing reports in Turkey, Korea, Australia, Phillipines, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunai and Malaysia, it has been announced that Ramadan in these countries will begin from Monday June 6, 2016.
Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, also began in Southern Indian state Kerala Monday as the new moon was sighted at Kappad in Kozhikode Sunday evening. This was confirmed by spiritual heads of the community Palayam Imam VP Suhail Maulavi and others.
More than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world will mark the month, during which believers abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and having martial relations from dawn until sunset. They also try to avoid evil thoughts and deeds during the holy month.
Ramadan is sacred to Muslims because tradition says the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) during that month. It is followed by the Eid al-Fitr festival.