RAMADAN & SHAWWAL 1438 (2017)
First day of Ramadan will be
Saturday, May 27, 2017, and
Eid al-Fitr on
Sunday, June 25, 2017,
in sha'Allah.
"O you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint." Qur'an 2: 183
The Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) recognizes astronomical calculation as an acceptable Shar'i method for determining the beginning of Lunar months including the months of Ramadan and Shawwal. FCNA uses the criteria of European Council of Fatwa and Research (ECFR), which are that somewhere on the globe, at the sunset, the elongation should be at least 8 degrees and moon should be at least 5 degrees above horizon. If this condition is met, the month starts the next day; otherwise the month starts on the day following next. The presence of moon above horizon at sunset is the basis.
On the basis of this method, the dates of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr for the year 1438 AH are established as follows:
1st of Ramadan will be on Saturday, May 27, 2017
1st of Shawwal will be on Sunday, June 25, 2017
Ramadan 1438 AH:
The Astronomical New Moon is on Thursday, May 25, 2017, at 19:46 Universal Time. On May 25 there is no place on earth where at sunset the elongation is 8 degrees and moon is 5 degrees above the sun. Therefore, Ramadan cannot start the next day. Hence the
first day of Ramadan 1438 is on Saturday, May 27, 2017, in sha'Allah. First Tarawih prayer will be on Friday night May 26th.
Eid al-Fitr 1438 AH:
The Astronomical New Moon is on Saturday, June 24, 2017, at 2:33 Universal Time. On that day, somewhere close to South Africa at sunset the elongation is 8 degrees and moon is 5 degrees above the sun.
Therefore, first day of Shawwal 1438 is on Sunday, June 25, 2017, in sha'Allah.
May Allah (
swt) keep us on the right path, and accept our fasting and prayers. Ameen.
