Many countries around the world have started fasting today as the holy month of Ramadan begins. However, some countries, including Pakistan, will commence fasting from Tuesday (tomorrow).
According to Arab media reports, Saudi officials have sighted the crescent moon and declared the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan from Monday. The officials observed the moon on Sunday night, marking Monday as the first day of the fasting month, as reported by Saudi state television.
Following the moon sighting in Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia, several Gulf Arab nations, along with Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Lebanon, Palestine, Sudan, and Egypt, confirmed that they too would begin fasting on Monday.
However, some Asia-Pacific countries, such as Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, stated that they will commence Ramadan on Tuesday after failing to sight the crescent moon. Oman, situated on the easternmost edge of the Arabian Peninsula, also announced that Ramadan would begin on Tuesday, while Jordan will similarly begin Ramadan on Tuesday.
Iran, considering itself the worldwide leader of Shia Muslims, typically begins Ramadan a day after Sunnis start. The office of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced that Ramadan will start on Tuesday, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and India are expected to make announcements about the start of Ramadan today after sighting the crescent moon. It is most likely that Ramadan will commence in these countries on Tuesday.
