DUBAI, 4 September 2007 — The Emirates Astronomical Society (EAS) has announced that the holy month of Ramadan will start on Thursday (Sept. 13) according to astronomical calculations.
“Astronomical calculations have showed that Sept. 13 will be the first day of the fasting month in most Muslim countries, including Oman, Morocco, Iran and others, which started the month of Shaaban on Aug. 14,” said Mohammed Ouda, chairman of the Islamic Crescents’ Observation Project (ICOP) and a member of the EAS.
For these countries, he explained, Tuesday, Sept. 11, will correspond to the 29th of Shaaban and on this specific day it will be impossible to sight the crescent, as the moon will set before the sun.
Consequently, he added, these countries should complete 30 days in the month of Shaaban and start the fasting month on Thursday, Sept. 13.
