KABACAN, NORTH COTABATO (May 5) — Ramadhan 2019 fasting starts tomorrow, May 6 .
This was announced Saturday night by Bangsamoro Grand Mufti Abu Huraira Udasan, when the Darul Ifta (House of Opinions) that was tasked to do moon-sighting failed to see the crescent that was supposed to signal the first day Ramadhan this year.
Ramadhan is the ninth month in the Islamic year.
Muslim tradition dictates that on the twenty-ninth day of Sha’aban, the eight month of the Islamic year, moon-sighting is done by the Darul Ifta (House of Opinions) to determine the start of the Ramadhan when every Muslim fasts daily from pre-dawn to immediately after the sunset.
Fasting during Ramadhan is obligatory upon every Muslim except the travelers, ill persons and women having their monthly periods who are permitted to skip fasting.
However, they are required to fast later for a period equivalent to the number of days that they were not able to fast. Immediately after sunset, the Muslims start breaking their fast.
A fasting Muslim refrains from eating, drinking, smoking and having sexual intimacy with his or her spouse during the day. – Taher G. Solaiman/NewsLine.ph