Muslims throughout the world will be looking for a crescent moon sighting at sunset today to decide if Ramadhan (the month of fasting) starts on Friday or Saturday.

According to scientific data a new crescent moon is only visible after 20 hours. And the moon’s angle (altitude) from the sun at sunset needs to be at least 7 degrees.

The new moon will be born at 20:44 (BSTUT) on Thursday 25th May 2017.

The moon will NOT be visible to the naked eye at sunset on Thursday 25th May 2017 anywhere in the world.

The pre-calculated Umm al-Qura calendar system of Saudi Arabia will accept moon sightings up to 97.7 degrees latitude (the location at which sunset occurs when dawn is breaking the following morning in Mecca).

Saudia Arabia does not state that other countries should follow their conclusions. The London Central mosque, which is funded by Saudi Arabia, does not ask/instruct any other mosque in the UK to follow their conclusions/instructions.

But some people blindly insist on following Saudi Arabia even when their conclusions defy scientific data. Their reported sightings are not made by Saudi appointed official bodies either.

This amounts to "I am a Muslim believe me not this scientific data - but for the rest of the year follow the scientific data".

Conclusion:

The moon will NOT be visible in the UK or anywhere in the world by the naked eye on Thursday 25th May 2017.

The moon will be easily visible the following evening (26th May) across much of the world. On this basis Ramadhan is expected to begin on Saturday 27th May 2017.

Latest:

Saudi Arabia has confirmed that Ramadhan will begin on Saturday 27th May 2017.
Southall along with the rest of the UK will start Ramadhan on the same day.