The holy month of Ramadan begins Thursday in Jordan, Chief Islamic Justice Ahmad Hilayel announced on Tuesday.
Hilayel said the crescent moon (hilal) of the new lunar month was not spotted in Jordan on Tuesday, which makes Thursday the first day of Ramadan, during which Muslims observe dawn-to-dusk fasting.
In Islam, to determine the start of lunar months, including Ramadan, people look for the crescent and those who sight the new moon report to the Sharia court to testify.
However, the usual practice is that Muslim scholars and astronomers meet before sunset on the 29th of Shaban to spot the new moon, headed by the chief Islamic justice, who traditionally has the final say over the issue.
The same applies to the end of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, as the scholars and experts meet on the 29th of the month to decide, upon sighting or lack of sighting the hilal, whether to complete 30 days of fasting, or announce Eid Al Fitr, the holiday on the first of Shawwal.
