Welcome to Ramadan 2012/1433!

UPDATED: July 20th 2012 – 07:30 GMT (05:30pm Australian EST)

The moon has been sighted in New Zealand & Australia.

Whether you are following physical or calculation moon sighting or just following the “majority” :-), Ramadan Mubarak from MuslimVillage.com!

Keep checking back this page for the latest information on moon sighing in other countries – we are updating regularly 

We will list Ramadan start dates for countries around the world InshAllah.

As has been the case in past years, different countries and organisations will establish the start (and end) of Ramadan using different methods. Although all will of course be using moon sighting as the deciding factor, some will use the calculation method, whilst others will use a physical sighting (some accepting local, others global physical sighting).

Please check with your local Mosque or Islamic organisation to find out when they will be starting Ramadan.

Moon Sighting for Ramadan 2012 – 1433

Information Courtesy of www.moonsighting.com

The Astronomical New Moon is on July 19, 2012 (Thursday) at 4:24 GMT.

On Thursday, July 19, it can not be seen anywhere in the world by naked eye, except in small areas of Polynesian Islands.

On July 19, with binoculars/telescope it can be seen in Chile, South America.

On Friday, July 20, 2012, it can be easily seen in Australia, South-East Asia, Africa and Americas (See visibility curves below).

OFFICIAL 1st Day of Ramadan in Different Countries

Friday, 20 July 2012:

• Australia (FCNA, ECFR, Ummul-Qura)
• USA – Fiqh Council of North America/Islamic Society of North America (Calculations)
• Afghanistan (Follow Saudi)
• Albania (Follow Saudi)
• Armenia (Follow Saudi)
• Austria (Follow Saudi)
• Azerbaijan (Follow Saudi)
• Bahrian (Follow Saudi)
• Bangladesh (Some areas follow Saudi)
• Belgium (Follow Saudi)
• Bolivia (Follow Saudi)
• Bosnia and Hercegovina (Follow Saudi)
• Bulgaria (Follow Saudi)
• Canada – Fiqh Council of North America and Muslim Association of Canada, Alberta
• Chechnia (Follow Saudi)
• Cosovo (Follow Saudi)
• Denmark (Follow Saudi)
• Egypt – Moon Born before sunset & moon sets at least 5 minutes after sunset
• Finland (Follow Saudi)
• France (Follow European Council of Fatwa & Research (ECFR))
• Georgia (Follow Saudi)
• Germany (Follow ECFR)
• Georgia (Follow Saudi)
• Hungary (Follow Saudi)
• Iceland (Follow Saudi)
• Ireland (Follow Saudi)
• Italy (Follow Saudi)
• Jordan (Follow Saudi)
• Kazakhstan (Calculations)
• Kuwait (Follow Saudi)
• Kyrgizstan (Follow Saudi)
• Lebanon (Follow Saudi)
• Luxembourg (Follow ECFR)
• Mauritania (Follow Saudi)
• Montenegro (Follow Saudi)
• Netherlands (Follow Saudi)
• Nigeria (Local sighting – Announced)
• Norway (Follow Saudi)
• Palestine (Follow Saudi)
• Philippines (Follow Saudi)
• Qatar (Follow Saudi)
• Romania (Follow Saudi)
• Russia (Follow Saudi)
• Saudi Arabia (Local Sighting – Official Announcement)
• Spain (Follow Saudi)
• Sudan (Follow Saudi)
• Sweden (Follow Saudi)
• Switzerland (Follow Saudi)
• Syria (Follow Saudi)
• Tajikistan (Follow Saudi)
• Taiwan (Follow Saudi)
• Tatarstan (Follow Saudi)
• Tunisia – Criteria of age, or altitude, or sunset-moonset lag
• Turkmenistan (Follow Saudi)
• Turkey (Follow Saudi)
• U.A.E. (Follow Saudi)
• UK (Follow Saudi) [Coordination Committee of Major Islamic Centres and Mosques of London]
• Uzbekistan (Follow Saudi)
• Yemen (Follow Saudi)

Saturday, 21 July 2012

• • Australia (Local Sighting)
  • Bangladesh (Local Sighting)
  • Brunei (Local Sighting)
  • Canada (Shi’aa Community – Announced by Grand Ayatollah Hosseini Nassab)
  • India (Local Sighting)
  • Indonesia (30 days completion – Official Announcement)
  • Iraq (30 days completion – Official Announcement)
  • Japan (30 days completion – Ruyat-e-Hilal Committee-Japan)
  • Kenya (Local Sighting)
  • Malaysia (30 days completion) [Age > 8 hours, altitude > 2°, elongation > 3°]
  • Mauritius (Local Sighting)
  • Morocco (Local Sighting)
  • Namibia (30 days completion)
  • Oman (30 days completion, since not possible on July 19)
  • Pakistan (Local Sighting or 30 day completion)
  • South Africa (30 days completion)
  • Tanzania (30 days completion)
  • UK (30 days completion) [Wifaaqul ulama), (Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat], OR (Sighting from countries east of UK)

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Prayer Times Table for Ramadan 2012 / 1433

• Sydney
• London
• NewYork City
• Birmingham
• Melbourne
• Dearborn
• Chicago

Getting the best out of Ramadan 

MuslimVillage.com has put together a series of articles to help you get the best of Ramadan InshAllah. We will be constantly updating this page with new articles, videos + more. If you find them helpful, feel free to share with your family and friends and multiply your rewards!

“Fasting breath”, wheres your lunch?, the sudden need for power naps – non Muslim friends, family and work mates sometimes have a hard time understanding what Ramadan is all about. To make it a little easier on your non Muslim friends, here is some handy hints – A Ramadan guide for non Muslims!… Continue reading …

Fasting the month of Ramadan is not just about abstaining from food an drink. According to Imam Al Ghazali,for one to achieve the maximum spiritual benefit, it is imperative that one has an understanding of the inner dimensions of fasting… Continue reading …

At a time when the world has become like a big village and at a point when our society is on the verge of great change and transformation, if we are to establish a better world for all, the first thing to do is to implant a sense of love and compassion..Continue reading …

Try to make sure that when you look back at this Ramadan in the future, you feel like you made a difference in your life that will stick with you for life InshAllah. Do something OUT of your comfort zone and InshAllah, it will transform you…Continue reading …

Muslims use the Ramadan fast as a vehicle for introspection and heightened spirituality, a message that can be a bit beyond children. So it’s the other aspects of Ramadan that get emphasized — fostering a stronger sense of family and community, improving one’s character and amping up good works in the hopes of making them lifelong habits…Continue reading …

It’s hard to believe that Ramadan is heading down the final homestretch. The last few days of Ramadan are upon us, as Muslims from all over the world step up their efforts to make the most of every remaining moment. The last ten nights of Ramadan are are the most blessed and we should increase our worship and devotion as they hold the glittering jewel of Laylat al-Qadr, or the Night of Power…Continue reading …

To fast is an act of liberation from artificial collective emotions, consumerism, insane competition and love of power in order to set ourselves free from injustice, oppression and war. To fast is an act of justice towards the self. It should also be an act of justice towards human beings around the world, those who are oppressed and unjustly treated. God is the Just (al Adl) and He commands justice, as the Qu’ran tells us…Continue reading …

Undoubtedly, many of us will be hosting an iftaar party and sharing food with others this Ramadan. Whether you are the guest or the host, being aware of certain table-manners can help to make that iftaar an productive one and avoid offending anyone by upholding and following Islamic values…Continue reading …

A Muslim’s diet is above ordinary – we are “meat-eating vegetarians” which means if it’s not organic or halal food (lawful in Islam), we practice temporary vegetarianism…Continue reading …