Ramadan starts on Friday in Jordan

AMMAN — The holy month of Ramadan begins on Friday in Jordan, Grand Mufti Abdulkarim Khasawneh announced on Thursday.

Khasawneh said that the crescent moon (hilal) of the new lunar month was spotted in Jordan on Thursday, which makes Friday the first day of Ramadan, during which Muslims observe dawn-to-dusk fasting, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

In Islam, to determine the start of lunar months, including Ramadan, people look for the crescent and those who sight the new moon report to the Sharia court to testify.

For the beginning of Ramadan, Muslim scholars and astronomers meet before sunset on the 29th of Shaban to spot the new moon, headed by the chief Islamic justice, who traditionally has the final say over the issue.

The same applies to the end of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, as scholars and experts meet on the 29th of the month to decide, depending on the sighting of the hilal, whether to complete 30 days of fasting or announce Eid Al Fitr, the holiday on the first of Shawwal, when Muslims break their fast.