Ankara: Muslims in Trkiye, Oman, Singapore, and Australia will begin fasting in Ramadan on Thursday, after authorities in the four countries confirmed the start of the holy month based on astronomical calculations.

According to Anadolu Agency, Safi Arpagus, head of the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs, announced that the first Tarawih, which are special nightly prayers during Ramadan, will be held on Wednesday evening. Consequently, the first day of fasting will commence on Thursday.

In Oman, authorities also confirmed that Muslims will start fasting on Thursday. Officials stated that Wednesday would be the last day of Shaaban, the eighth month in the Islamic lunar calendar, without necessitating a public moon sighting. Assistant Grand Mufti Kahlan bin Nabhan al-Kharousi emphasized that this decision is grounded in long-established religious and scientific principles.

In Singapore, Muslims will begin fasting on February 19, as per a statement by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis). Mufti Nazirudin Mohd Nasir detailed that astronomical calculations indicated the new moon of Ramadan would not be visible at sunset on February 17. Thus, the last day of Shaaban will be on February 18, with Ramadan starting on February 19.

Australia has also verified that the fasting month will commence on Thursday, following astronomical calculations. This decision was endorsed by the Australian Fatwa Council, after consultations led by Grand Mufti Ibrahim Abu Mohamad.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and begins with the sighting of the crescent moon. While some countries rely on local moon sighting, a number of them are increasingly using astronomical calculations to determine the start of the month, especially when scientific data corroborates the impossibility of visual observation.