The sighting of the crescent moon this evening is set to determine the official start date of Ramadan 2025, with Saudi Arabia, the UK, and other nations awaiting confirmation. Islamic authorities will observe the sky on Friday, 28 February, to establish whether fasting begins on Saturday, 1 March, or extends to Sunday, 2 March.
The Significance of the Ramadan Moon Sighting
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is a sacred period of fasting, prayer, and community engagement observed by millions worldwide. The Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, making the start of each month dependent on a visible crescent moon.
The timing varies globally, as some nations rely on local sightings, while others adhere to Saudi Arabia’s official declaration.
According to Livemint, Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has urged citizens to observe the moon this evening. If sighted, Ramadan will begin on Saturday, 1 March; otherwise, the first fast will commence on Sunday, 2 March.
Countries such as India and Pakistan typically begin fasting a day later, though this year’s alignment suggests a potentially unified start across multiple regions.
How Different Countries Determine the Start of Ramadan
In Saudi Arabia, moon sighting committees will monitor the skies after sunset in Riyadh, around 6:00 PM local time. If the crescent is confirmed, Ramadan will commence the following day.
The UAE follows a similar method, with astronomers from Abu Dhabi’s International Astronomical Centre predicting that the crescent will be visible through telescopes across West Asia, most of Africa, and southern Europe. However, final confirmation still depends on traditional moon sighting methods.
In the United Kingdom, East London Mosque projects Ramadan will begin on 1 March, pending confirmation from Saudi Arabia. The UK’s Muslim community typically follows the Saudi announcement, though some mosques base their decision on local sightings.
Meanwhile, in Pakistan, the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will confirm the date, with the first fast expected to be observed on 2 March if the moon is seen a day later than in Saudi Arabia.
The challenge of differing moon sighting interpretations
While the global Muslim community shares the same religious principles, moon sighting methods sometimes lead to regional variations in Ramadan’s start date. Some scholars advocate for scientific calculations, while others insist on traditional visual confirmation. Here is the Ramadan 2025 Prayer and Iftar Timetable
Ramadan 2025 Prayer and Iftar Timetable
| Date | Ramadan | Fajr | Sunrise | Dhuhr | Asr | Maghrib/Iftar | Isha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/03/2025 | 1st Ramadan* | 05:05 | 06:42 | 12:18 | 15:05 | 17:44 | 19:10 |
| 02/03/2025 | 2 | 05:03 | 06:40 | 12:18 | 15:06 | 17:46 | 19:12 |
| 03/03/2025 | 3 | 05:01 | 06:38 | 12:18 | 15:07 | 17:48 | 19:13 |
| 04/03/2025 | 4 | 04:59 | 06:36 | 12:17 | 15:09 | 17:50 | 19:15 |
| 05/03/2025 | 5 | 04:57 | 06:34 | 12:17 | 15:10 | 17:51 | 19:15 |
| 06/03/2025 | 6 | 04:55 | 06:32 | 12:17 | 15:11 | 17:53 | 19:17 |
| 07/03/2025 | 7 | 04:52 | 06:29 | 12:17 | 15:12 | 17:55 | 19:18 |
| 08/03/2025 | 8 | 04:50 | 06:27 | 12:16 | 15:13 | 17:57 | 19:20 |
| 09/03/2025 | 9 | 04:48 | 06:25 | 12:16 | 15:14 | 17:58 | 19:20 |
| 10/03/2025 | 10 | 04:46 | 06:23 | 12:16 | 15:16 | 18:00 | 19:22 |
| 11/03/2025 | 11 | 04:43 | 06:20 | 12:16 | 15:17 | 18:02 | 19:24 |
| 12/03/2025 | 12 | 04:41 | 06:18 | 12:15 | 15:18 | 18:03 | 19:25 |
| 13/03/2025 | 13 | 04:39 | 06:16 | 12:15 | 15:19 | 18:05 | 19:26 |
| 14/03/2025 | 14 | 04:37 | 06:14 | 12:15 | 15:20 | 18:07 | 19:28 |
| 15/03/2025 | 15 | 04:34 | 06:11 | 12:14 | 15:21 | 18:09 | 19:30 |
| 16/03/2025 | 16 | 04:32 | 06:09 | 12:14 | 15:22 | 18:10 | 19:31 |
| 17/03/2025 | 17 | 04:30 | 06:07 | 12:14 | 15:23 | 18:12 | 19:32 |
| 18/03/2025 | 18 | 04:28 | 06:05 | 12:14 | 15:24 | 18:14 | 19:34 |
| 19/03/2025 | 19 | 04:25 | 06:02 | 12:13 | 15:25 | 18:15 | 19:35 |
| 20/03/2025 | 20 | 04:24 | 06:00 | 12:13 | 15:26 | 18:17 | 19:37 |
| 21/03/2025 | 21 | 04:22 | 05:58 | 12:13 | 15:27 | 18:19 | 19:39 |
| 22/03/2025 | 22 | 04:20 | 05:55 | 12:12 | 15:28 | 18:20 | 19:40 |
| 23/03/2025 | 23 | 04:18 | 05:53 | 12:12 | 15:29 | 18:22 | 19:41 |
| 24/03/2025 | 24 | 04:16 | 05:51 | 12:12 | 15:30 | 18:24 | 19:43 |
| 25/03/2025 | 25 | 04:14 | 05:49 | 12:12 | 15:31 | 18:26 | 19:44 |
| 26/03/2025 | 26 | 04:12 | 05:46 | 12:11 | 15:32 | 18:27 | 19:45 |
| 27/03/2025 | 27 | 04:10 | 05:44 | 12:11 | 15:33 | 18:29 | 19:47 |
| 28/03/2025 | 28 | 04:09 | 05:42 | 12:11 | 15:34 | 18:31 | 19:49 |
| 29/03/2025 | 29 | 04:06 | 05:39 | 12:10 | 15:35 | 18:32 | 19:49 |
| 30/03/2025 | 30 | 05:04 | 06:37 | 13:10 | 16:36 | 19:34 | 20:51 |
| 31/03/2025 | Eid ul-Fitr* | 05:03 | 06:35 | 13:10 | 16:37 | 19:36 | 20:53 |
Note: All times are approximate and may vary by location. Check with local authorities for precise prayer and iftar times.
According to Livemint, astronomers in Abu Dhabi anticipate that the crescent moon will be visible on Friday. However, differences may still arise, as some nations require unaided human sighting rather than telescopic verification.
In previous years, this has led to a split start for Ramadan, with some communities fasting a day earlier than others.
