Muslims across the globe are about starting the Ramadan Fast after Saudi Arabia announced on Friday that the holy month of Ramadan will commence on Saturday, March 1. This is coming after after the crescent moon was sighted in the Kingdom.
With the confirmation, more than 1.8 billion Muslims across the world will begin fasting from sunrise to sunset each day.
Ramadan falls on the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, which consists of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is considered mandatory for all healthy Muslims. However, young children, sick individuals, travelers, and women who are pregnant, nursing or menstruating are exempt.
Muslims followed the tradition of looking for the crescent moon for thousands of years to determine the start of Ramadan as well as the two major holidays in Islam, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
During Ramadan, working hours for private and public employees and school hours for children are typically reduced in some countries
In Nigeria ,the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, has also declared Saturday, March 1, 2025, as the first day of Ramadan .
He said the declaration was based on the sighting of the moon in almost every part of the country earlier on Friday, which is the 29th day of the Month of Shaban and thereby signifies March 1 as the first day of Ramadan 1446.
He said, “We got the information from Muslim leaders across the country and we accept the sighting of the moon accordingly.”
Abubakar called on the entire Muslim community in the country to start the Ramadan fast on Monday following the teachings of Islam.
He called on all Muslims to pray during the month of Ramadan for the leaders to discharge their duties with the fear of God.
The Sultan further advised all Muslims in the country and beyond to observe the fast with the ultimate fear of God, while urging the wealthy to assist the less privileged with food during the Holy month of Ramadan.
