By The Plu & Agencies
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has announced that Monday June 6 is the first day of Ramadan after confirming seeing the moon crescent, Al Arabiya News Channel reported.
The UAE, Jordan, Indonesia, the Palestine and Singapore have also confirmed seeing the Ramadan moon crescent and declared Monday as the first day of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims.
Muslims in Singapore will usher in the holy month of Ramadan on Monday (Jun 6), kicking off a month of fasting during daylight hours and prayers with fellow believers around the world.
Announcing the date, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) noted that according to astronomical calculations as agreed upon by member countries of The Informal Meeting of the Religious Affairs Ministers of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, the crescent moon for the month of Ramadan appeared on Sunday evening after sunset for about 18 minutes.
“I would like to take this opportunity to wish every Muslim in Singapore a blessed Ramadan,” the Mufti of Singapore, Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram said in a statement on Sunday.
“In this blessed month, let’s take the opportunity to strengthen friendship and foster stronger family ties and perform activities such as having the pre-dawn and break fast meals and performing the night prayers together as a family.”
The Indonesian government has decided the first day of Ramadhan 1437 will fall on June 6, urging Muslims to protect the sanctity of the holy month.
Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin announced the decision regarding the first day of the fasting month in Jakarta on Sunday. The date is based on when the new moon can be seen based on six sworn witnesses in the Indonesian cities of Belu, Jombang, Bangkalan, Kebumen, Gresik, and Bojonegoro.
The beginning of Ramadan is set by the emergence of hilal, the very slender crescent moon that is first visible after a new moon.
“Based on all the input we received, we decided that the first day of Ramadhan will fall on Monday, June 6,” Lukman Hakim told reporters at a press conference.
The minister also called on owners of entertainment businesses, especially nightclubs, to temporarily close or adjust the running of their businesses during Ramadhan to respect the fasting month.
“I also remind the media to support the government’s mission to preserve harmony during the holy month,” he added.
