According to the holy book of the Quran, fasting during Ramadan is one of Islam’s five pillars. This year, Ramadan will begin from the evening of Monday, April 12 and will conclude on Tuesday, May 11, 2021.

The Islamic religious authority in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) announced that the official start of the holy month of Ramadan will be on Tuesday, April 13.

“By virtue of the authority vested in me as Grand Mufti of BARMM, I hereby announce that we will start fasting on this blessed month of Ramadan on Tuesday, April 13,” Grand Mufti Abu Huraira Udasan said in an announcement carried live over social media platforms on Sunday evening.

Teams of Muslim religious scholars and volunteers were deployed in various regions to do moonsighting on Sunday evening.

The crescent moon that heralds Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, was not visible on Sunday night, prompting the declaration of the start of fasting on Tuesday.

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos also issued a similar declaration.

—(Source: Inquirer.net)

What is Ramadan?

(source: https://www.indiatoday.in)

Ramadan or Ramzan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar when Muslims worldwide observe fasting from dawn to dusk. They take their meal before dawn and after sunset. The meal taken before the sunrise is called Suhur, and the meal taken after the sunset is called Iftar. 

It is believed that during this month, God had revealed the verses of the Quran for the first time to Prophet Muhammad on “Laylat al-Qadr” (The Night of Power), the holiest night of the year when the blessings of Allah is abundant, and sins are forgiven.

The observance of Ramadan gives one the realization of the frailty of human life and our dependence on the Almighty for sustenance. According to the holy book of the Quran, fasting during Ramadan is one of Islam’s five pillars. The other pillars of Islam are a declaration of faith, daily prayer, charity, and Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.

Fasting for Ramadan is a mandate for all Muslims above adolescence except patients, travellers, elders, and women experiencing pregnancy or menstruation.

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