The Royal Court: Wednesday is the first day of Ramadan after the sighting of the crescent moon was confirmed

The Royal Court issued an important official statement today announcing that the Supreme Court has decided that tomorrow, Wednesday, is the first day of the holy month of Ramadan this year, after holding an investigation session to consider what it receives from the courts and observatories regarding the sighting of the crescent moon.

Reports from several astronomical observatories and sighting sites distributed throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia indicate that the crescent moon of the holy month of Ramadan was sighted on Tuesday evening, making Tuesday the last day of Sha’ban, and Wednesday the first day of the holy month.

Details of the Supreme Court statement and the sighting process

The Supreme Court had previously called upon all Muslims throughout the Kingdom to look for the crescent moon of Ramadan on the evening of Tuesday, the 29th of Sha'ban, according to the Umm al-Qura calendar. The Court emphasized in its call the necessity for anyone who sees the crescent, whether with the naked eye or using binoculars, to report it to the nearest court and officially register their testimony, or to contact the nearest center for assistance in reaching the nearest court.

A precise mechanism and strict standards for observing the crescent moon

The process of sighting the new moon in Saudi Arabia is characterized by meticulous precision and a systematic, institutional approach overseen by the state to ensure the accuracy of religious timings. The sighting of the new moon a religious and legal process that relies on observing and monitoring the beginning of the Islamic months according to the lunar calendar.

The Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court are keen to ensure the reliability of the moon sighting through several strict safeguards, most notably:

• Medical standard: Observers undergo thorough medical examinations to measure visual acuity, and they are tested and tried for long periods to ensure their ability to accurately observe the crescent moon.
• Judicial supervision: The papers and testimonies of the sighters are presented to the Permanent Supervisory Committee for Crescent Sighting at the Ministry of Justice, which is a committee approved by royal decree and whose work is followed up directly by the Minister of Justice.
• Modern technologies: In addition to naked-eye observation, astronomical observatories equipped with the latest telescopes and binoculars are used in carefully selected geographical locations to avoid light pollution and natural obstacles, after sunset on the twenty-ninth day of the lunar month.

The importance of advertising and its regional impact

The announcement by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of the start of the holy month of Ramadan receives widespread attention across the Arab and Islamic world, given the Kingdom's status as the Qibla (direction of prayer) for Muslims and its custodianship of the Two Holy Mosques. Many Islamic countries and Muslim minorities around the world often follow the Kingdom's lead in determining the beginning of the blessed month, thus uniting the sentiments of Muslims across the globe.

Muslims welcome this blessed month with joy and anticipation, as the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed. Everyone prepares to observe the fast, perform the Taraweeh prayers, and observe the night prayers in a serene and spiritual atmosphere. We ask God to make it a month of goodness and blessings for the Arab and Muslim nations, and to accept everyone's fasting, prayers, and good deeds.