If the moon is not visible, the month will last 30 days.By the Gregorian solar calendar, Ramadan comes 10 to 12 days earlier each year. Last year, the first day of Ramadan was on June 6, 2016. In order to declare the beginning of Ramadan, Saudi Arabia and other Muslim-majority countries depend on the testimonies of local moon sighters.
Ramadan 2017 1st day of fasting May 27 / May 28
Astronomically the birth of a new moon can be calculated, but the actual visibility of the crescent depends on factors such as atmospheric conditions, cloudiness, and the distance between the sun and the moon on the horizon. Moon sighters in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim-majority countries were unable to sight the moon on the eve of night and have thus announced that Shaban, the last lunar month before Ramadan, will start on Thursday evening.Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan,
Iran, and Malaysia have officially confirmed the same.The Muslim holy month of Ramadan will begin either on Saturday, May 27 or on Sunday, May 28, depending on moon sighting on the eve of May 27. For Muslims, Ramadan is the month in which the first verses of the Quran, Islam's holy book, were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad more than 1,400 years ago.During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset.
This fasting is intended to bring the faithful closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less fortunate.Ramadan fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the Muslim declaration of faith, daily prayer, charity and performing the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.In Muslim-majority countries, offices are required by law to reduce working hours, and many restaurants are closed during daylight hours.