It’s just been officially confirmed – the Holy Month of Ramadan in the Philippines this year will begin on Thursday, May 17.
Declaration of Regional Darul Ifta, ARMM for the start of Ramadan 2018/1439 Hijri
The Regional Darul Ifta of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao through Dr. Aboulkhair Sanouk Tarason, the Grand Mufti, issued the declaration evening of Tuesday, May 15, 2018. Below is the original text of the declaration:
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| PHOTO: Masjid Buluan, the biggest mosque in Buluan, Maguindanao |
"Praise be to Allah, and may the blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family, his companions and those who followed him.
Following the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) as saying: "Fast upon its sighting (the new moon of Ramadan) and break your fast upon its sighting (the new moon of Shawwal). If the sky is cloudy for you then complete the number of Sha'ban thirty days". We from the Regional Darul Ifta, after conducting the moonsighting in the afternoon of 15 May 2018 in several sites across ARMM and gathering information from identified focal persons nationwide, and upon consultation with local Muftun and senior Ulama, and after having monitored moonsighting activities in neighboring countries, we hereby officially declare the following:
1. We affirm that there has been NO SIGHTING of the new moon of Ramadan;
2. As such, we declare that tomorrow (Wednesday) 16 May, 2018 is the completion of the 30th day of Sha'ban, 1439 Hijri;
3. As such, we hereby declare that the 1st day of Ramadan, will be on Thursday, 17 May 2018.
May the blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad (SAW), his family and companions and upon those who follow his footsteps until the Day of Judgment.
Issued this evening of Tuesday, 15 May, 2018.
Your brother in Islam,
(signed)
Dr. Dr. Aboulkhair Sanouk Tarason
The Grand Mufti, Regional Darul Ifta, ARMM
