![]() ![]() Given that atmospheric conditions like cloud cover can play a part in the moon's visibility, and also that many Muslim-majority countries follow Saudi Arabia's lead, for tens of millions of Muslims, the time to start fasting often remains a mystery up until the night before. But others, such as Saudi Arabia, which is often referred to as the home of Islam, still choose to rely on the sighting of the first sliver of a new moon. That is the case for some countries, such as Turkey and Iraq, and for Muslim communities in the United States and Europe, which base their start date on astronomical predictions. You might think that with modern astronomical tools, determining the start of a new moon would be straightforward enough. While that is far from unique among religious holidays, the process of determining the start of the month of Ramadan is particularly complex-and controversial. Thus, the dates for Ramadan change every year. That's because the Islamic calendar is a lunar one, based on the crescents of the moon, and 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. Related: What is Ramadan? Under Trump, Muslims think it's more important than ever that Americans know However, many won't know when Ramadan starts until just a few hours before fasting begins. ![]() ![]() Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, and one that despite long days of fasting is highly anticipated by Muslims as an opportunity to get closer to God and their faith. ![]()
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