Saudi Arabia Declares Saturday, March 1, as the Start of Ramadan

Following the sighting of the Ramadan crescent moon on Friday, Saudi Arabia has officially declared that the holy month of Ramadan will begin on Saturday, March 1.

In honor of the holy month, almost 1.8 billion Muslims throughout the world will now begin their daily fast, which will last from sunrise to sunset.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, which consists of 12 months and spans 354 or 355 days.

Fasting during this period is one of the five pillars of Islam, making it a fundamental religious obligation for all healthy adult Muslims. However, exceptions are granted to:

• Pregnant, lactating, or menstruating women
• Individuals who are ill
• Young children
• Travelers

For centuries, Muslims have relied on the crescent moon to determine the beginning of Ramadan and the two major Islamic festivals: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.