This year, many Muslim-majority nations are expected to begin the holy month of Ramadan on Monday, March 11th, 2024. This determination hinges on the sighting of the Crescent Moon, which is traditionally used to mark the beginning of Islamic months.
Most Islamic countries started the month of Shaaban on Sunday, February 11th. Now, their focus shifts to sighting the Crescent Moon for Ramadan on Sunday, March 10th.
The International Astronomical Center (AIC) predicts that the central conjunction, which is the moment when the Sun and Moon are aligned as viewed from Earth, will occur on March 10th at 9:00 AM GMT. Following this, the Moon is expected to set after sunset in most regions of the Islamic world.
Based on this information, many countries are likely to start Ramadan on March 11th. However, it’s important to note that scientific research suggests the visibility of the Crescent Moon on March 10th is highly unlikely.
Several prominent scholars and astronomical organizations, including Ibn Tariq, Wutheringham, Maunder, Parwin, Elias, SAAO, Yallop, and Odeh, agree that the Crescent Moon will not be visible on that day across the Arab and Islamic world, regardless of using the naked eye or a telescope.
However, there’s a possibility that the Crescent Moon might be visible with the aid of a telescope in certain parts of the Americas, particularly in the western regions.
Therefore, countries that strictly follow the sighting of the Crescent Moon within the Islamic world are likely to begin Ramadan on Tuesday, March 12th.
