The holy month of Ramadan in the Islamic lunar calendar 1445 is set to commence on Monday, March 11, 2024, following the sighting of the Crescent Moon in Saudi Arabia on Sunday 10, 2024.
Prior to this, Muslims worldwide were urged to remain vigilant in reporting the sighting of the moon, signaling the imminent arrival of this revered period of piety and sacrifice in the Islamic tradition.
In Nigeria, His Eminence Saa’d Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), also encouraged the faithful to keep watch for the crescent.
The confirmation of the moon’s sighting on Sunday heralds the commencement of Ramadan, beginning with Taraweeh prayers after the Isha’i prayer at midnight.
The announcement from Saudi Arabia affirmed the start of Ramadan on Monday, March 11, as the crescent was sighted by the moon-sighting committee. The Saudi Supreme Court confirmed the sighting on Sunday evening, which marked the conclusion of the previous Islamic month of Sha’ban at 29 days. Thus, Ramadan 1 falls on March 11, marking the inception of the fasting period for Ramadhān 1445.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, spans 720 hours, equivalent to four weeks and two days. During this time, followers of Islam fast from dawn until sunset, engage in prayer for peace and guidance, contribute to the community through acts of charity or zakat, and partake in humanitarian endeavours such as feeding the underprivileged while reflecting on enriching their spiritual selves.
The timing of Ramadan varies annually due to the lunar-based Islamic calendar, resulting in shifting start and end dates based on the sighting of the crescent moon.
