The start of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, is determined by the sighting of the new crescent moon. But in the UK, the beginning of this sacred month can vary. While Saudi Arabia has confirmed today as the first day of Ramadan, the UK's Muslim community is divided on the matter. Dr. Wajid Akhter, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), highlights the differing opinions among UK Muslims. Some follow the sighting in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, while others look to closer Muslim countries like Turkey or Morocco, or even the UK itself. Dr. Akhter emphasizes the need for a unified answer in the UK, as the current situation is causing frustration among families and communities. The crescent moon's importance lies in its role as a marker of the Islamic lunar calendar, which consists of either 29 or 30 days, depending on the moon's phases. The New Crescent Society is working to train UK Muslims to determine the start of each lunar month independently, reducing reliance on sightings from other countries.
