IT is that time of year again. The time when Muslims the world over argue about when Ramadan begins. Should Muslims fast when astronomers calculate that a new moon is born or should Muslims wait until they see the crescent for themselves or at least know that it was sighted within their national borders?

The Saudi Council of Senior Scholars has rejected the idea that the beginning and end of lunar months should be determined on the basis of astronomical calculations. “Shariah does not accept astronomical calculations based on mathematical computing as the basis for the beginning and ending of Ramadan,” said Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, grand mufti of Saudi Arabia and chairman of the council.

This means that Muslims in the Kingdom will start fasting only after the new moon is sighted. Currently the Um Al-Qura calendar, which is followed by the government, shows that Ramadan 1429 will begin on Sept. 1. King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) offers this calendar online at http://www.kacst.edu.sa/services/hijricalendar/default.aspx. The same site offers a prayer time calculator for cities in the Kingdom and a Gregorian to Um Al-Qura date converter.

However, the website Moonsighting.com is claiming that it will be impossible to see the crescent of the new moon in the Kingdom on Sept. 1. At Moonsighting.com calculations are made concerning where the crescent moon sighting is possible with the naked eye for every lunar month. The visibility calculations at the site have matched with the recorded observations of the new moon every month since 1993.

A statement at the site reads: “The Ramadan crescent moon will not be visible on Aug. 30 anywhere. On Aug. 31, it can easily be seen in South America and Polynesian Islands. On Aug. 31, it is possible but difficult to see in South Africa, northern part of South America, Caribbean Islands and Central America. By telescope it can be seen in Australia and the United States on Aug. 31. On Sept. 1, it will be easily visible by naked eye in most of the world, except in northern areas of Asia, Europe and Canada.”

The Moonsighting Committee Worldwide (www.moonsighting.com/mcw.html) has registered representatives in all the Gulf Cooperation Council nations except Qatar. In the Kingdom, its observers include Saleh Al-Saab from KACST. The moon-sighting observers each month register their findings concerning the sighting of the new moon. It will be interesting to read their comments on the visibility of the Ramadan crescent. Also, don’t miss the remarks concerning the Kingdom under the FAQ section of the site.