Astronomers in the UAE have confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon of Shaaban, marking its official commencement as the eighth month of the Islamic calendar. On Thursday, January 30, at 9:30 A.M., the crescent moon was sighted from Al Khatem Astronomical Observatory in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. This sighting indicates that Shaaban, the month preceding Ramadan will start on Friday, January 31, but when will Ramadan in UAE start?
According to the International Astronomy Centre in Abu Dhabi, the observation of the moon at almost 10.5 degrees away from the sun represents the commencement of Sha’ban in the Islamic year 1446 AH (Hijri year). Sha’ban is important in the lunar calendar for Muslims as a time of preparation for the holy month of Ramadan, which is the month of fasting during the day.
Islamic months according to the lunar calendar may have 29 or 30 days reckoned from the day of the sighting of the crescent moon. Together with the 29th of Shaaban, official moon-sighting committees will assemble to ascertain what the precise commencement date of Ramadan will be. If the crescent moon is sighted on that day, Ramadan will be on the following day; otherwise, it will begin the day after Ramadan. According to the prediction, Ramadan will be on the 1st of March this year, but the exact date is subject to moon-sighting confirmation.
January 31 will be the first day of Shaaban in the UAE and many other states, including Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria and as well in Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Morocco and Mauritania.
With Ramadan almost here, Muslims worldwide begin their preparations for a month of spiritual growth, fasting, and almsgiving. The sighting of the moon in Shaaban is a very important stage leading to this holy period of the year, emphasizing again the importance of moon sightings in Islamic history.
