Ramadan 2020
How is the start date of Ramadan determined? The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community uses the calculation of the moon to determine when the moon can possibly be visible by the naked eye in our local area or country. Instead of following any other country, Muslims are to determine the start date of Ramadan as the day after the moon is visible with the naked eye wherever they live. Therefore, the first day of Ramadan is Saturday, April 25th, this year due to the fact that the moon will only be visible on Friday, April 24th.
The below image comes from the HM Nautical Almanac Office and illustrates the different gradients of visibility of the moon on Thursday, April 23rd (which, in the Islamic calendar, is the 29th of the month of Shaban). This illustrates that there is no place in the U.S. where the moon will be visible with the naked eye:
There are only parts of Mexico and Latin America where the moon may be visible under perfect conditions. There isn't any segment of the U.S. where the moon would be visible with the naked eye. Thus, there is no chance for a moon sighting on Thursday, April 23rd.
The below image now illustrates the different gradients of visibility of the moon for Friday, April 24th (which is the 30th of Shaban). This illustrates that the entire country (and entire world) is able to see the moon with the naked eye on Friday, April 24th, InshaAllah:
Since we will only be able to see the moon with the naked eye on Friday, April 24th, this means that the first day of fasting for the month of Ramadan will be Saturday, April 25th. We wish all our brothers and sisters a blessed and spiritually uplifting Ramadan.
For any questions, please feel free to contact us.