Ramadan commences when a small sliver of the moon, known in astronomical terms as the “waxing crescent,” emerges and becomes visible. And that’s true across the Islamic world.

An Indonesian Muslim uses a telescope to see the new crescent moon and determine Rukyatul Hilal, which signals the end of Ramadan at Nahdlatul Ulama Rukiyatul Condro Dipo hall on April 9, 2024, in ...

The exact dates of Ramadan change every year. This is because Islam uses a calendar based on the cycles of the moon. The Ramadan period is a 30 or 29-day fast from sunrise to sunset every day.

Similarly, the Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins with the sighting of the crescent moon on Feb. 28, following the new moon, and concludes with Eid al-Fitr at the next crescent moon.

Ramadan commences when a small sliver of the moon, known in astronomical terms as the “waxing crescent,” emerges and becomes visible. And that’s true across the Islamic world.

This year, Ramadan is expected to begin on the night of Feb. 28, as the crescent moon should be sighted in the sky.