In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Announcement Concerning:

The Crescent Moon of the Holy Month of Ramadan, 1441 A.H.

إعلان بخصوص هلال شهر رمضان المبارك ١٤٤١ هـ

To the respected believers in North America,

Peace be upon you.

The Moon-Sighting Committee of the Council of Shia Muslim Scholars of North America announces that Friday, April 24th, 2020 will be the last day of the month of Shaban and that Saturday, April 25th, 2020, will be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, 1441 A.H. for the entire region of North America.

This determination is based on the fact that there were no verified sightings of the crescent moon by the naked eye at sunset on Thursday, April 23rd, 2020 in any region of North America.

Ramadan Mubarak! May Almighty God accept your fasting and good deeds. We ask God, the Most Merciful, to bring a swift end to the current pandemic and grant a quick recovery to all those afflicted. And as always, we ask God, the Most High, for success in performing good deeds and to hasten the Return of Our Master, Imam Mahdi (p).

On behalf of the Crescent Committee,
Sayyid M. Rizvi, Secretary-General


Add our Hijri Calendar to your device.


Important Islamic Events this Month:
6 Ramadan (Apr 30) Allegiance of Imam Ali al-Ridha (p), (Year 201 A.H.)
10 Ramadan (May 4) Death of Lady Khadijah (p), (Year 3 B.H.)
12 Ramadan (May 6) Welcoming of the Muslims in Madinah, (Year 1 A.H.)
15 Ramadan (May 9) Birthday of Imam Hasan ibn Ali (p), (Year 2 A.H.)
17 Ramadan (May 11) The Battle of Badr, (Year 2 A.H.)
19 Ramadan (May 13) Attack on Imam Ali (p) in Masjid al-Kufa, (Year 40 A.H.);
1st Observance of the Nights of Destiny (Layali al-Qadr) –
Starts in the evening on Tuesday, May 12th.
20 Ramadan (May 14) The Conquest of Mecca, (Year 8 A.H.)
21 Ramadan (May 15) Martyrdom of Imam Ali (p) in Kufa, Iraq, (Year 40 A.H.);
2nd Observance of the Nights of Destiny (Layali al-Qadr) –
Starts in the evening on Thursday, May 14th.
23 Ramadan (May 17) 3rd (Final) Observance of the Nights of Destiny (Layali al-Qadr) –
Starts in the evening on Saturday, May 16th.

A Friendly Reminder

Feed the Fasting in Need – Click here to learn how you can gain what the Holy Prophet (pbuh) promised before you miss the opportunity, by feeding the fasting in need.

Islamic Laws of Fasting –  Click here to get your copy of FASTING: A Haven from Hellfire, an excellent gift for your friends, family, and children.

Fidyah and Kaffarah – Click here for a reminder on some of the most important rulings regarding Qada (make-up) fasts and offering Fidyah and Kaffarah (expiation for missing fasts).


Note:

  • This announcement from the Crescent Committee is per the request of numerous community members across North America to help in identifying the beginning of the Hijri months.
  • To learn about our basis for determining the beginning of lunar months and the theory about the unity of horizons, click here.
  • To read Frequently Asked Questions about the Announcements of the Crescent Committee, click here.

The Moon-Sighting Committee was established during the seventh annual conference of The Council of Shia Muslim Scholars of North America, and has been providing monthly sighting announcements to the North American Shia Muslim communities since 2007. The Council adopts/renews its members on an annual basis.

To learn about our basis for determining the beginning of lunar months and the theory about the unity of horizons, click here.