Ramadan 2025 Start Date Announced in Morocco Amid Split Observance

Morocco has declared that Ramadan 2025 will start on March 2, following the non-sighting of the crescent moon. This aligns with the United Kingdom’s start date, leading to a division as some regions follow a March 1 commencement linked to Saudi Arabia. This will create a split Ramadan experience internationally and within communities in the UK.

In a recent announcement, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in Morocco declared that Ramadan 2025 will start on Sunday, March 2, following the failure to sight the crescent moon. Consequently, the month of Shaban will extend into a 30th day. Unlike countries that utilize telescopes for moon sighting, Morocco relies solely on naked-eye observations for such events.

The decision in Morocco aligns with the Ramadan start in the United Kingdom, as the moon was also not sighted there. When a crescent moon is not observed in the UK, officials typically refer to Morocco, which is regarded as a significant Islamic neighbor. Therefore, the lack of sighting in Morocco serves as confirmation of the March 2 start date in the UK.

As it stands, Morocco and the UK are the only nations confirmed to commence Ramadan a day later than some regions. Notably, certain organizations and mosques in the UK align their schedules with Saudi Arabia, which has already announced a March 1 commencement for Ramadan. This disparity will result in a “split Ramadan,” with some individuals beginning their fast on Saturday and others on Sunday.

In summary, Morocco has officially announced the beginning of Ramadan 2025 on March 2 due to the non-sighting of the crescent moon. This announcement affects the United Kingdom as well, leading to a divided observance of Ramadan, where some will fast starting March 1 while others will commence on March 2. This difference underscores varying practices regarding moon sightings in Islamic communities worldwide.

Original Source: www.birminghammail.co.uk