Ramadan starts for many Dutch Muslims; Some uncertainty about exact starting day
Dutch Muslims face uncertainty over the start of Ramadan, as conflicting methods for determining the lunar calendar create differing fasting start dates, NOS reports. Saudi Arabia reported seeing the thin crescent of the new moon today, marking the beginning of Ramadan for much of the Muslim world.
However, many Muslims in the Netherlands are expected to begin fasting on Thursday instead. The discrepancy reportedly stems from the approach used by the Vereniging Imams Nederland, which relies on astronomical calculations, known as Hisaab, rather than the visual moon sighting, Ru’yah, used in Saudi Arabia. This same calculation method is also employed in Belgium and Turkey.
The difference has caused confusion, particularly among Moroccan-Dutch communities, who traditionally followed the Saudi moon sighting. Not all mosques have communicated which method they will follow this year, leaving some believers uncertain.
During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat, drink, smoke, or engage in sexual activity from sunrise to sunset. The month is also a time for family gatherings, charitable acts, and personal reflections.
Ramadan ends with the sighting of the waxing moon, marked by Eid al-Fitr, known in the Netherlands as Suikerfeest. This year, depending on which method is used to determine the start of Ramadan, the holiday will be celebrated on either March 19 or March 20.
