SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
With the holy month of Ramadan approaching, preparations are under way across the UAE, from households to offices and major establishments.
While the exact dates will be confirmed through official moon sighting, astronomers’ calculations help guide expectations around daylight hours and seasonal shifts during the holy month.
Speaking to Aletihad, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Astronomical Society, offered an overview of projected daylight hours and fasting periods over the course of the month.
“In Abu Dhabi, at the beginning of the holy month, daylight will be approximately 11 hours and 32 minutes long, while the fasting period will be about 12 hours and 46 minutes. Towards the end of the month, daytime will be approximately 12 hours and 12 minutes long, and the fasting period from dawn to sunset will be about 13 hours and 25 minutes.”
This year, the holy month is also expected to coincide with seasonal changes, Al Jarwan said. “According to normal averages, temperatures are expected to range between 16 and 28 degrees Celsius at the beginning of the month, rising to around 32 degrees Celsius during the day and 19 degrees Celsius in the early morning hours towards the end.”
“There is also a possibility of spring weather disturbances known as ‘Al Sarayat’, and increased activity of westerly and northwesterly winds at this time of year,” he added.
Explaining the religious framework governing moon sighting, Al Jarwan pointed to the position of the UAE Council For Fatwa. “The esteemed muftis clarified that the only acceptable method under Islamic law (Sharia) is visual sighting, whether with the naked eye or through optical telescopes.”
Most scholars have not permitted the use of electronic telescopes, invisible radiation, or certain smart observation methods that cannot be seen with the naked eye, including astrophotography, he added.
Based on the official process of declaring the start and end of the holy month, a crescent sighting committee is formed by a decision of the chairman of the UAE Council for Fatwa.
“The committee meets to hear witness testimonies regarding the sighting of the crescent and deliberates among themselves before submitting its recommendation to the relevant authority to announce the beginning of the month. The same procedure is followed when sighting the crescent of Shawwal,” Al Jarwan said.
He noted that astronomical data and statements are typically used to support decision-making; however, the final decision “remains a purely religious ruling issued by the competent religious authorities and announced by the authorised entity”.