Morocco Declares Start Date for Ramadan 2025 Amid Global Discrepancy

The Moroccan Ministry of Islamic Affairs has announced that Ramadan 2025 will start on March 2, following a lack of crescent moon sighting. This aligns the UK start date with Morocco. However, some UK mosques will begin Ramadan a day earlier on March 1, leading to a division in observation.

The Moroccan Ministry of Islamic Affairs has officially declared that the start date for Ramadan 2025 in the country will be on Sunday, March 2. This announcement came after the crescent moon was not sighted, resulting in the continuation of Shaban for its 30th day. Unlike some countries that might use telescopes to observe the moon, Morocco relies solely on naked-eye sightings for this determination.

Consequently, the United Kingdom has also aligned its Ramadan start date with Morocco, as authorities there confirmed no sighting of the crescent moon. Traditionally, the UK checks with Morocco, its closest Islamic neighbor, for confirmation when sightings are unsuccessful. Therefore, the negative sighting from Morocco creates a reliable basis for the March 2 date in the UK.

However, the situation reveals a division in Ramadan start dates around the globe. Some organizations and mosques in the UK have opted to follow Saudi Arabia’s earlier announcement of a March 1 start for Ramadan. This discrepancy has resulted in a ‘split Ramadan,’ with some Muslims starting their fast on Saturday, March 1, while others will begin on Sunday, March 2.

The announcement from Morocco about the start of Ramadan 2025 on March 2 reflects a significant division in observance globally. The reliance on naked-eye observations versus astronomical methods highlights contrasting practices among different countries. The resultant split in fasting dates poses a challenge for the Muslim community in the UK, ultimately leading to variations in how Ramadan is celebrated.

Original Source: www.birminghammail.co.uk