Khaberni - It is impossible to sight the crescent of Ramadan today, Tuesday the 29th of Sha'ban, which means that the start of fasting tomorrow, Wednesday, is not feasible. Therefore, tomorrow will be considered a completion day for the month of Sha'ban in the countries that depend on local or regional sighting.
This was announced by the International Astronomy Center in a detailed explanatory post on its account on the X platform, including images and tables listing the countries and cities where sighting the crescent today is impossible, as well as countries and cities where it is not possible to see the crescent today, February 17 as well.
The scientific basis for ruling the impossibility of sighting
The center based this determination on precise astronomical calculations, especially regarding the "duration of the moon's lower edge" after sunset, where it explained that the crescent, if found, appears at the lower edge of the moon's disk.
Therefore, in cases where the moon sets concurrently with the sun or close to it, the timing of the setting of the lower edge, not the upper edge, is adopted to ensure the accuracy of the astronomical evaluation for sighting the crescent.
Cities and countries included in the impossibility of sighting
The list of regions where sighting the crescent on Tuesday evening is impossible includes capitals and major cities in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and America, including in the Gulf and the Middle East:
Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Manama, Kuwait, Muscat, Baghdad, Amman, Jerusalem, Damascus, Beirut.
In North Africa and Yemen: Cairo, Khartoum, Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, Sanaa, and Jizan.
In Central Asia and Southeast Asia: Kabul (Afghanistan), and Jakarta (Indonesia).
In Europe and North America:
Amsterdam (Netherlands), Berlin (Germany), Washington D.C., Dallas (Texas), and Honolulu (Hawaii).
Clarification of the calculation methodology and time exceptions
The center noted that the published tables pertain to the countries where Tuesday corresponds to the 29th of Sha'ban, excluding the countries where the date still corresponds to the 28th of Sha'ban on that day, such as: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Morocco, and Mauritania - where the beginnings of Islamic months vary according to each country's adoption of astronomical standards or legitimate sighting.
Based on these documented astronomical data, it is expected that the majority of the mentioned countries will declare Wednesday as the completion day for the month of Sha'ban, with the holy month of Ramadan beginning after sighting is confirmed on the following night, in accordance with the legal and technical considerations adopted in each country.
