Shortly following the news from Riyadh, other Gulf countries also announced the start of Ramadan. However, some more eastern countries do not see the crescent moon on Sunday, but on Monday, and the fasting month in them does not begin until Tuesday. This is the case for Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Oman, on the easternmost edge of the Arabian Peninsula, and Jordan have already announced that Ramadan will begin there on Tuesday.
During this month, Muslims are prohibited from eating, drinking and smoking from sunrise to sunset. However, children, pregnant and lactating women, and sick and elderly people do not have to observe the fast. After the last evening prayer, traditional feasts are held at family tables.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and its beginning in most countries is not determined by astronomical calculation, but is determined by the moment when the crescent of the new moon is seen in the evening sky. That is why some countries start Ramadan a day later than in Saudi Arabia. The lunar year is also shorter than our regular year, which is why Ramadan is celebrated ten days earlier each year than the previous year. It will even start twice in 2030, on January 5 and December 26.
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