Ramadan 2024 Monday or Tuesday? Muslims anticipate beginning of holy month

Muslims all over the world will be on the lookout Sunday for the Ramadan crescent which signifies the beginning of the holy month.

As Ramadan is expected to begin either Monday, March 11, or Tuesday, March 12, countries like Australia have already declared Tuesday as the first day of Ramadan.

The Australian Fatwa Council said in a statement that the Ramadan crescent will be difficult to sight on Sunday meaning that Monday is the last day of Shaaban.

Brunei also announced that Ramadan will begin on Tuesday.

The Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam (PABD) said that the “moon Crescent [was] not sighted in Brunei Darussalam,” and that Brunei will observe the first day of the holy month on March 12.

The International Astronomical Center said on its website that Ramadan is likely to being on Monday because the moon will set after sunset in most of the Muslim world.

However, the center said that the sighting of the crescent will be difficult on Sunday and hence countries that require sighting of the crescent as a prerequisite to declare the beginning of Ramadan will likely declare Tuesday March 12 as the first day of the holy month.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have called on Muslims to sight the Ramadan crescent moon on Sunday.

The Saudi Supreme Court and the UAE moon sighting committee requested residents to look for the crescent moon, which sighting would signify the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

During the month, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. Fasting hours vary across countries. This year, observing Muslims can expect to fast between 12 and 17 hours.

Working hours for most public and many private sector employees are reduced across the GCC and some other Muslim-majority countries.