First Day of Ramadan 1441 and ICCNC Policy on Declaring the First Day of Islamic Lunar Months

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Based on the ICCNC policy on declaring the first day of Ramadan and other Islamic Lunar Months summarized below, the first day of Ramadan 1441, most likely will be on Saturday, April 25, 2020. The new crescent moon is born on Thursday, April 23, 2020 (day of conjunction), but it cannot be seen by the naked eye in North America or most places around the world, except in the Pacific Islands and under perfect conditions in parts of Central America. A naked eye will see the new moon all over the world on Friday, April 24, 2020. Inshallah, by 10 P.M. of April 23rd or 24th, we will announce if the new crescent was sighted in North America. Moreover, the month of Shawwal new moon is born on Friday, May 22, 2020, but cannot be seen anywhere in the world. The new Shawwal moon will be sighted with the naked eye on Saturday, May 23, 2020; therefore, Sunday, May 24, 2020, will be the first day of Shawwal and Eid ul-Fitr.

ICCNC Policy on Declaring the First Day of Ramadan and Other Islamic Lunar Months

The Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California uses the following principles in announcing the beginning and the end of Ramadan and other Islamic lunar months: 

1. ICCNC follows the opinion of the majority of Shia legal scholars who believe that the new crescent moon must be sighted within the relative localities. In our case, in North America, to declare the beginning of a new lunar month.

2. If based on the scientific calculations, the probability of sighting the new crescent moon with unaided eyes does not exist in the San Francisco Bay Area, or it is impossible due to the weather, then ICCNC relies on its network of Shia scholars and institutions in California and North America to confirm the sighting of the new moon. 

3. ICCNC follows the rulings of the majority of Shia scholars who require that the new crescent moon has to be sighted with the naked eye, without using any instruments such as telescopes or binoculars.

4. ICCNC does not use the astronomical calculations used by many Islamic institutions and mosques in North America to determine the first day of a lunar calendar. The new moon usually cannot be sighted when it is just born in the sky (the day of conjunction). According to the majority of Shia scholars, the new crescent moon must be sighted with the naked eye by at least two people.

5. ICCNC does not follow the announcements of Eid or the beginning of the new lunar months made in other countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, etc. The new crescent moon has to be sighted in North America.

6. The passage of 30 days in a lunar month confirms the birth of the new crescent marking the beginning of the next month

7. Most importantly, according to the Shia legal scholars, determination of the first day of Ramadan or Eid ul-Fitra is an individual inquiry. If an individual who inquires, believes that a specific day is Eid, then that individual is obligated to follow his/her conviction.

We pray to God and ask Him to strengthen the unity of the Muslims in America and across the world, Inshallah.