Middle East News
Muslim fasting month tentatively to start on September 23
Sep 2, 2006, 18:06 GMT
Amman - A renowned Arab astronomer on Saturday predicted the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan to start on September 23.
The prediction was made by Hamid Naimi, chairman of the Arab Federation of Air Space Sciences and Astronomy.
'In accordance with the various astronomical methods used for deciding the start of the lunar months, fasting is expected to start in some of the Islamic countries this year on September 23, while other states may begin fasting on September 24,' Naimi was quoted as saying by the official Petra news agency.
He did not rule out fasting to begin in a third group of Islamic countries on September 25.
However, Naimi said that the determination of the start of Muslim lunar months, including Ramadan, 'usually lies with clergymen and not with astronomers.'
In accordance with strict Islamic teachings, legal moon sighting panels are set up by almost all Islamic governments to determine the advent of the month of Ramadan, which witnesses a drastic change in office hours, business activity and living habits.
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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