Welcoming Ramadan: Sighting the crescent moon

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The appearance of the hilal, the new crescent moon, signifies the start of Ramadan – but not everyone in the world is able to sight it at the same time.

In the Qur’an God says, ‘They ask you [O Prophet] about the phases of the moon. Say, “They are a means for people to determine time and pilgrimage.” (2:189) This connection between time and the moon’s phases is the key to understanding how and when Muslims around the world welcome – and say goodbye to – Ramadan.

Why doesn’t Ramadan start at a set date each year?

The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used calendar in the world. It is a solar calendar, which means it is based on the position of the sun relative to the stars. Solar calendars are relatively consistent, so Christmas, for example, falls on 25 December each year in the West.

The Islamic ‘lunar visibility’ calendar is different. This calendar is based on the cycles of the moon’s phases, with the beginning of each month based on the sighting of the hilal.

The hilal appears as a slim curve in the sky, as God declares, “As for the moon, We have ordained [precise] phases for it, until it ends up [looking] like an old, curved palm stalk.” (36:39) This image is further popularised by the hilal’s appearance on the flags of several Muslim countries such as Pakistan, Türkiye and Algeria.

How is the hilal sighted?

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whenever you see the new moon of Ramadan, begin fasting. When you see the new moon of Shawwal, break your fast. If the sky is cloudy, fast for 30 days.” (Muslim)

It takes the moon 29.5 days to complete a lunar cycle. As a month cannot have half a day, some Islamic months will have 29, while others will have 30 – but never 31.

A man looks for the moon using binoculars in Cornwall, UK

On the 29th day of Sha’ban, the month preceding Ramadan, people around the world search the skies. If the thin sliver of the hilal is seen, the next day marks the beginning of Ramadan. If the hilal is not visible, perhaps due to bad weather, the following day is declared the 30th day of Sha’ban, and Ramadan begins the day after. 

While astronomical calculations can determine the position of the moon, they might not directly address the visibility of the hilal from Earth. Scholars have therefore differed as to which method should be given preference when sighting the hilal.

Does the start of Ramadan vary by location?

Yes, it can do.

Muslim communities have adopted varying methods for sighting the moon. Muslim-majority nations traditionally have a government department dedicated to this, such as Saudi Arabia’s Moon Sighting Committee of the Supreme Court.

Because the moon cannot always be sighted from every location, due to the Earth’s spherical shape and atmospheric conditions, some have adopted global moonsighting i.e. beginning Ramadan as soon as any country in the world declares it. In other countries, Muslim populations often follow either Saudi Arabia or the closest Muslim country (for the UK, this is Morocco).

Local moonsighting i.e. beginning Ramadan when the hilal has been sighted in your country, is also on the rise, with organisations such as the UK-based New Crescent Society organising moonsighting gatherings.

The New Crescent Society brings families together to sight the Ramadan moon in Northala Fields, London

Are Ramadan fasts always the same length?

No, this depends on where you are in the world and what season it is.

The Islamic calendar is approximately 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar year. As a result, Islamic months shift through the seasons over time.

Over the course of a Muslim’s lifetime, they will experience Ramadan in spring, summer, autumn and winter – each a different experience, yet always a sacred one.

In 2030, Muslims will observe Ramadan twice – first in January, and then December. This phenomenon last occurred in 1997. Ramadan is observed twice in a year every 30 years due to the difference between the Islamic and Gregorian calendars.

In the UK, 2025 is the first time in many years that Ramadan will end before daylight saving time, meaning shorter fasts. Many adults will remember similarly short fasts as schoolchildren – highlighting the cyclical nature of the seasons, and life itself.

This shift is part of a broader phenomenon. For Muslims living in the northern hemisphere, fasting hours will continually shorten until 2031, when Ramadan will coincide with the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. After that, fasting hours will gradually increase until the summer solstice – the longest day of the year. For those in the southern hemisphere, for example in Malawi or Australia, the opposite will happen.

Ramadan is a sacred month in which Muslims strive to perform extra good deeds, including giving charity. Please donate today to help Islamic Relief continue our work helping those most in need around the world.

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