The chairman of a moon-sighting committee points a telescope at the skies in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA
The chairman of a moon-sighting committee points a telescope at the skies in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA
The chairman of a moon-sighting committee points a telescope at the skies in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA
The chairman of a moon-sighting committee points a telescope at the skies in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA

World

Oman, India and Pakistan among countries to start Ramadan on Sunday

Moon sighted on Indian subcontinent to herald start of holy month

Tim Stickings
Tim Stickings

April 02, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Muslims in Oman, India and Pakistan will be among those marking the start of Ramadan on Sunday, a day after the holy month began in other countries including the UAE.

The beginning of Ramadan depends on when the crescent moon is sighted by religious officials, meaning there is more than one possible start date.

The crescent was spotted on Saturday in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, media in those countries said, heralding the start of Ramadan on Sunday.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Egypt and Yemen had sighted the Moon on Friday, meaning Ramadan started on Saturday.

But a Moon-sighting committee in Oman did not spot the crescent in time for a Saturday start, meaning Ramadan will start on Sunday, said the country’s Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs.

Shoppers flock to a textile market in the north Indian city of Srinagar days before Eid Al Fitr, the festival that ends the month of fasting. AFP
Shoppers flock to a textile market in the north Indian city of Srinagar days before Eid Al Fitr, the festival that ends the month of fasting. AFP
An iftar gathering at Sunahri Mosque in the northern Pakistani city of Peshawar. AP
An iftar gathering at Sunahri Mosque in the northern Pakistani city of Peshawar. AP
A young worshipper waits to break his day-long fast in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad. AP
A young worshipper waits to break his day-long fast in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad. AP
Afghans line up to receive ration aid donated by the Chinese government during Ramadan, in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
Afghans line up to receive ration aid donated by the Chinese government during Ramadan, in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
Children play at the Sarkhej Roza complex in Ahmedabad, India, during Ramadan. AFP
Children play at the Sarkhej Roza complex in Ahmedabad, India, during Ramadan. AFP
A family takes a selfie as they wait to board a free bus, sponsored by Indonesia's Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, to their home village in Central Java. AP
A family takes a selfie as they wait to board a free bus, sponsored by Indonesia's Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, to their home village in Central Java. AP
Muslim protesters gather to eat iftar in front of the president's secretariat in Colombo, Sri Lanka. EPA
Muslim protesters gather to eat iftar in front of the president's secretariat in Colombo, Sri Lanka. EPA
The Jama Masjid mosque in Allahabad. AFP
The Jama Masjid mosque in Allahabad. AFP
People head to the railway station in Dhaka to buy train tickets ahead of Eid Al Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. AFP
People head to the railway station in Dhaka to buy train tickets ahead of Eid Al Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. AFP
People shop ahead of Eid Al Fitr in Karachi, Pakistan. EPA
People shop ahead of Eid Al Fitr in Karachi, Pakistan. EPA
A man prays on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar. Reuters
A man prays on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar. Reuters
Bangladeshi Muslim students read the Quran in Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA
Bangladeshi Muslim students read the Quran in Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA
Reading the Quran during Ramadan is considered a rewarding act by Muslims, such as this man at a mosque in Pakistan's northern city of Peshawar. EPA
Reading the Quran during Ramadan is considered a rewarding act by Muslims, such as this man at a mosque in Pakistan's northern city of Peshawar. EPA
Egyptian confectioner Mostafa Anwar makes a traditional oriental dessert called 'Kunafa' in Cairo. AFP
Egyptian confectioner Mostafa Anwar makes a traditional oriental dessert called 'Kunafa' in Cairo. AFP
The faithful break their fast during Ramadan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. AFP
The faithful break their fast during Ramadan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. AFP
Muslims break their Ramadan fast at an open iftar outside the Royal Albert Hall in London. Reuters
Muslims break their Ramadan fast at an open iftar outside the Royal Albert Hall in London. Reuters
Iftar spread is laid out at Jama Masjid in the old quarters of New Delhi, India. EPA
Iftar spread is laid out at Jama Masjid in the old quarters of New Delhi, India. EPA
A young worshipper at Jama Masjid in the old quarters of New Delhi, India. AFP
A young worshipper at Jama Masjid in the old quarters of New Delhi, India. AFP
Orphans read copies of the Quran at the Majamma Nuruljinan in Pattani, southern Thailand. AFP
Orphans read copies of the Quran at the Majamma Nuruljinan in Pattani, southern Thailand. AFP
A volunteer prepares iftar food at a shrine in Dhaka, Bangladesh. AFP
A volunteer prepares iftar food at a shrine in Dhaka, Bangladesh. AFP
Muslims break their fast at the Shah-E-Alam shrine in Ahmedabad, India. AFP
Muslims break their fast at the Shah-E-Alam shrine in Ahmedabad, India. AFP
A worker in Lahore, Pakistan, dries vermicelli used to make a traditional sweet dish popular during Ramadan. EPA
A worker in Lahore, Pakistan, dries vermicelli used to make a traditional sweet dish popular during Ramadan. EPA
Lorry drivers pray before breaking their fast in Lahore, Pakistan. AP
Lorry drivers pray before breaking their fast in Lahore, Pakistan. AP
Women offer prayers during the first Friday of Ramadan at the historic Badshahi mosque, in Lahore, Pakistan. AP
Women offer prayers during the first Friday of Ramadan at the historic Badshahi mosque, in Lahore, Pakistan. AP
Men attend the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia. EPA
Men attend the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia. EPA
A man prepares food for devotees to end their fast at the Jama-e-Masjid Aiwan in Hyderabad, India. AFP
A man prepares food for devotees to end their fast at the Jama-e-Masjid Aiwan in Hyderabad, India. AFP
Muslims leave after offering first Friday prayers at the Badshahi mosque. AP
Muslims leave after offering first Friday prayers at the Badshahi mosque. AP
Muslim girls read the Quran before the start of the Friday prayers at the Jamia mosque in Nairobi, Kenya. Reuters
Muslim girls read the Quran before the start of the Friday prayers at the Jamia mosque in Nairobi, Kenya. Reuters
A man looks through a sunshade tent erected for worshippers in the compound of Jama Masjid in New Delhi, India. AP
A man looks through a sunshade tent erected for worshippers in the compound of Jama Masjid in New Delhi, India. AP
People attend the first Friday prayers of Ramadan in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA
People attend the first Friday prayers of Ramadan in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA
Bangladeshi Muslims visit the mosque after attending Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramadan at a Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA
Bangladeshi Muslims visit the mosque after attending Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramadan at a Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA
Workers fry sweets at a traditional confectionery shop in the Afghan capital Kabul. AFP
Workers fry sweets at a traditional confectionery shop in the Afghan capital Kabul. AFP
A young girl enjoys a great view of evening prayer at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia. AP
A young girl enjoys a great view of evening prayer at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia. AP
A Muslim shopkeeper selling hijabs waits to have his iftar meal during the holy month in a street market in Mumbai. Reuters
A Muslim shopkeeper selling hijabs waits to have his iftar meal during the holy month in a street market in Mumbai. Reuters
Blind Muslims read the Quran in braille in Medan, Indonesia, during the holy month. AFP
Blind Muslims read the Quran in braille in Medan, Indonesia, during the holy month. AFP
A Muslim places food for people to break their fast on a roadside in Karachi, Pakistan. EPA
A Muslim places food for people to break their fast on a roadside in Karachi, Pakistan. EPA
A worker prepares vermicelli, used to make traditional sweet dishes popularly consumed throughout Ramadan, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India. AFP
A worker prepares vermicelli, used to make traditional sweet dishes popularly consumed throughout Ramadan, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India. AFP
Women gather for prayer at a mosque in Narathiwat, Thailand. AFP
Women gather for prayer at a mosque in Narathiwat, Thailand. AFP
An Indian worker stacks vermicelli at a factory in Allahabad, India. AFP
An Indian worker stacks vermicelli at a factory in Allahabad, India. AFP
Sugary drinks are prepared for iftar in Karachi, Pakistan. EPA
Sugary drinks are prepared for iftar in Karachi, Pakistan. EPA
Preparation for iftar is under way at a mosque in Kolkata, eastern India. EPA
Preparation for iftar is under way at a mosque in Kolkata, eastern India. EPA
A woman reads the Quran as she waits for iftar at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia. EPA
A woman reads the Quran as she waits for iftar at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia. EPA

Jordan likewise announced that Saturday would be the last day of the preceding month of Shaban, and that Ramadan would start on Sunday.

Indonesia’s religious affairs minister made the same ruling, despite one of the country’s largest Islamic groups, Muhammadiyah, saying its calculations suggested a Saturday start.

The first day of Ramadan in Yemen coincides with the start of a planned two-month ceasefire that was welcomed with cautious optimism.

There are hopes for a return to normality after two successive years in which Ramadan was marked under the cloud of coronavirus restrictions in many countries.

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THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

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Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

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Updated: April 03, 2022, 2:56 AM
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