June 27 & 28 As Possible Dates For Start of Ramadan Fast

An eleven member Muslim delegates committee has formally announced the June 27 and 28 as days for the sighting of the moon for this year�s Ramadan fast. The committee which was chaired by a Muslim scholar Alhaji Mohammed Gharzali noted that if the moon is not sighted on any of these days, June 29, will automatically become the starting day for this year's Ramadan. This was made known at the 20th National Ramadan Conference in the Western Region. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar that includes a religious fast for the month. In the Muslim calendar, the holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of Saturday, the 28th of June. Based on sight ability in North America, in 2014 Ramadan will start in North America a day later on Sunday, the June 29th and will end the evening of Monday July 28, 2014. Ramadan is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar; however, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year, as the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar and the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. This difference means Ramadan moves in the Gregorian calendar approximately 11 days every year. The date of Ramadan may also vary from country to country depending on whether the moon has been sighted or not.