Muslim faithful worldwide will today, Monday commence Ramadan after the Ramadan crescent moon was sighted in the United Arab Emirate.

This is Following Saudi Arabia’s announcement, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also declared today as the first day of Ramadan, having sited the crescent moon yesterday.

Qatar similarly declared Monday as the first day of Ramadan.

Muslims follow a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months in a year of 354 or 355 days. Sighting a crescent moon heralds the start of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

The starting date of the dawn-dusk fasting month is determined by both lunar calculations and physical sightings of a new moon.

Ramadan is observed by more than 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide and is considered a month of fasting and spirituality.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is mandatory for all healthy Muslims. However, young children, sick individuals, travelers, and women who are pregnant, nursing or menstruating are exempted.

The Islamic months last 29 or 30 days and the beginning or end of a month depends on the appearance of crescent, so Ramadan is not set on any specific day annually.

The month of Ramadan is the ninth of the 12 months of the Islamic calendar. Despite having as many months as the Gregorian calendar, the Islamic calendar is nearly 10 days shorter due to the lunar orbit.

This is why Ramadan falls at a different time every year according to the Gregorian calendar.