The tradition that signals the start of Ramadan

Every year, just before Ramadan begins, all eyes turn to the sky

In the UAE and across the Muslim world, the start of the holy month isn’t pulled from a calendar. Instead, Ramadan is confirmed through the sighting of the first slim crescent moon, a long-standing Islamic tradition known as Ru’yat Al Hilal.

Here’s what that actually means.

Why the moon matters

The Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, not the Gregorian one. That means each month lasts either 29 or 30 days, depending on when the new crescent becomes visible.

On the 29th evening of Shaaban (the month before Ramadan), observers head out just after sunset to scan the western horizon. If the crescent is seen, Ramadan begins the following day. If it isn’t visible, the month completes 30 days and Ramadan starts the day after that.

Isn’t the new moon already calculated?

Yes, and this is where things get interesting.

From an astronomical point of view, the “new moon” occurs when the moon aligns between the Earth and the sun. But at that stage, it’s invisible from Earth. The key moment in Islamic tradition is not the alignment itself, but the first visible sliver that appears shortly after sunset.

That crescent can be extremely faint and only stays visible for a short time before dipping below the horizon.

Also read: Here is when Ramadan in the UAE will be twice in the same year

Old traditions

Historically, sightings were made with the naked eye. Today, telescopes and binoculars are often used to assist observers, especially when conditions aren’t ideal.

In the UAE, an official committee gathers on the 29th of Shaaban to review confirmed sightings before announcing whether Ramadan will begin the next day. Astronomers also provide calculations to determine whether visibility is even possible in the country’s skies.