Get Ready for Ramadan 2024/1445!

Ramadan 2024/1445 is just around the corner! It's going to start on Monday, March 11, 2024. But do you know how they figure out the exact date?

How do they determine the start of Ramadan?

Well, in most Arab and Islamic countries, they rely on something called astronomical observatories. These observatories use special tools to look for the crescent moon in the sky. Once they spot it, they know that Ramadan has officially begun!

But what if it's cloudy and they can't see the crescent moon? In that case, they wait for thirty days and then start Ramadan. It's like a backup plan!

What's happening in Saudi Arabia?

In Saudi Arabia, they take the crescent-sighting very seriously. They even have a special session where they look for the moon in the city of Hotat Sudair. They invite the best visionaries who use the latest tools to help them out. Once they confirm the sighting, they announce it to the whole country!

What about other countries?

Some Islamic countries, like Turkey, use a different method. They rely on astronomical calculations to determine the start date of Ramadan. In Turkey, they've already set March 11 as the first day of Ramadan 2024.

How long will Ramadan last?

Good question! Ramadan usually lasts for 30 days. So, this year, it will end on Wednesday, April 10th. That's when we celebrate Eid al-Fitr!

How long will we fast each day?

During the first day of Ramadan, we'll be fasting for a little over 13 hours in most Arab countries. That includes places like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. Turkey and Iran might have a few minutes difference, but it's pretty similar.

Oh, and did you know that the first day of Ramadan will have the shortest fasting hours? After that, the fasting hours will gradually increase.