Ramadan 2020 likely to start in Saudi Arabia on April 23, a day later in India, Pakistan

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Ramadan 2020 likely to start in Saudi Arabia on April 23, a day later in India, Pakistan

A new month in the Islamic Calendar is decided based on sighting of the crescent – the new moon, on the 29th day of an ongoing month

Wednesday April 8, 2020 10:37 AM, ummid.com News Network

Ramadan 2020: Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, will start this year on Thursday April 23, 2020 if the new moon is sighted on 29th of Shaban 1441 in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other South Asian countries the holy month will start a day later.

A new month in the Islamic Calendar is decided based on sighting of the crescent – the new moon, on the 29th day of an ongoing month.

If the moon is sighted on 29th, the new month begins the next day. Otherwise, the next day is counted as the 30th and last day of the ongoing month and the next day is the first day of the new month.

When Ramadan begins in 2020

The month of Shaban began in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries on Wednesday March 25, 2020. Accordingly, the crescent or the new moon of the Holy Month of Ramadan will be sighted on April 22, 2020 corresponding to 29th Shaban 1441 H.

If the new moon is sighted on April 22, the Holy month of fasting will begin on Thursday April 23, 2020. In case the new moon is not sighted on April 22, then Ramadan in Saudi Arabia and other Arab states will begin on Friday April 24, 2020.

Ramadan 2020 start date in India, Pakistan

In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other South Asian countries, the new moon of the month of Ramadan, also called in the region as Ramzan, will be sighted on April 23, 2020 corresponding to 29th of Shaban 1441 AH in these countries. If the new moon is sighted on April 23, 2020 then the Holy month of fasting will begin on Friday April 24, 2020.

In case the new moon is not sighted on April 23 then Ramadan in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other South Asian countries will begin on Saturday April 25, 2020.

Ramadan 2020 start date UK, US

Most of the countries in other parts of the world including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and France rely on moon sighting reports of Saudi Arabia. Hence they start fasting along with the people in the Arab states.

Muslims in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and other nearby countries sight the moon on 29th of Shaban and accordingly decide the first day of Ramadan.

The Holy Month of fasting Ramadan this year is falling amid the Coronavirus outbreak which has taken into its grip more than 130 countries. As many as 1.4 million people worldwide have been affected and more than 82,000 people have died because of the new virus which was first detected in China's Wuhan.

Like previous few years in 2020 too Ramadan will share the hot summer when temperature reaches a maximum of 44-48 degrees in the Indian subcontinent and a maximum of 48-55 degrees in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. This is also the period when the days are longest.

Why Muslims fast in Ramadan?

Muslims around the world observe fast and refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk during the 30 days of Ramadan. Since the days are longest in this season, Muslims fast from 17 hours in some region to as many as 23 hours in some others.

Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the five tenants of Islam and is compulsory on every adult men and women. It is not mandatory on children. Yet a huge majority of children observe fast along with their parents and other family members despite scorching heat.

Impact of Coronavirus on Ramadan

Ramadan is also known as the month of Quran and also as the month of charity. Hence, while observing dawn to dusk fast, Muslims all over the world recite Quran. Special prayers called as Taraweeh are also organized in mosques. Taraweeh is performed in addition to the daily prayers of five times. Millions of rupees are also donated during the month of Ramadan which is later used for different charity works and feeding poor.

Umrah is another hallmark feature of Ramadan. However, due to coronavirus outbreak, there is uncertainty over Umrah during Ramadan 2020 as Saudi Arabia has imposed travel ban and suspended all international flights.

Moreover, most of the countries are under lockdown. Daily and Friday prayers are also suspended in all the countries affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19). Against this backdrop, it will be interesting to see how Muslims will adjust to Ramadan fasting under lockdown and Coronavirus fear.

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