Ramadan 2020 Announcement
In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
March 25, 2020 – Sha’ban 1, 1441
الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين واله وأصحابه أجمعين، ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين.
All Praise are due to Allah (swt) and we send prayers and blessings on our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and companions. The Imam’s council of NY, NJ, CT & PA congratulates the Muslim community on the advent of the blessed Month of Ramadan.
The Council is pleased to announce the beginning and ending dates of the month of Ramadan. We pray to Allah Almighty to make this a month of righteousness and blessings for the community, Ummah and the world.
“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint.” Qur’an 2: 183
RAMADAN & SHAWWAL 1441 (2020)
The astronomical calculations which are recognized by The Fiqh Council of North America, The European Council of Fatwa and Research (ECFR), and the Tri-State Imams Council of NY, NJ, and CT is an acceptable Shari’a method for determining the beginning of the Lunar months including the months of Ramadan and Shawwal. Take benefit of the available scientific criteria which are in accordance with the Shari’a principles, more certain and convenient for Muslims. The criteria are that somewhere on the globe, at the sunset, the elongation should be at least 8 degrees and the moon should be at least 5 degrees above the horizon. If these conditions are met, the new crescent will be visible somewhere on earth. Hence the new lunar month will start the next day, otherwise it will start on the following day
Based on this method, the dates of Ramadan and Eid-AlFitr for the year 1441 AH are established as follows:
Ramadan 1441 AH:
The Astronomical New Moon is on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 2:27 Universal Time. On that day, everywhere in North and South America at sunset the elongation is at least 8 degrees, and moon is at least 5 degrees above the sun. Therefore, the first day of Ramadan 1441 is on Friday, April 24, 2020, inshallah. Tarawih prayer will start on Thursday night.
Eid-AlFitr 1441 AH:
The Astronomical New Moon is on Friday, May 22, 2020 at 17:40 Universal Time. On that day there is no place on earth where at sunset the elongation is 8 degrees and the moon is 5 degrees above the sun. Therefore Shawwal 1441 cannot start the next day. Hence first day of Shawwal is on Sunday, May 24, 2020, inshallah.
May Allah (swt) keep us on the right path and accept our fasting and prayers. Ameen.
