Ramadan 2014 Start Dates

When Does Ramadan 2014 Start in US and Saudi Arabia?

Each year, there are sometimes confusions as to when to begin Ramadan. As a general rule of thumb, it is advisable for Muslims to follow their local mosques (masjids) (i.e., the mosque that they typically associate with and pray in).

Sheikh Yasir Qadhi advised this on his Facebook page sometime ago: "Do not make the beginning and ending of the month an issue of ikhtilaf al-quloob (the differing of hearts), and leave it an issue of ikhtilaf al-furoo (trivial differences). In case you don't associate with a particular masjid, go with the majority of Muslims in your community".

That said, here are the start dates of Ramadan 2014 based on geographical regions:

USA

The Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America (AMJA) congratulates Muslims throughout the world, and specifically in the US, on the arrival of the blessed month of Ramadan and announces the following:

Saturday, June 28th, 2014 will be the first day of the blessed month of Ramadan in the US. We ask Allah to make it a month filled with goodness, blessings and closeness to Him. We came to this decision after confirmation of the sighting of the crescent in Yemen. Also, there has been reports of sighting in Texas (Houston) and Alabama.

The Resident Fatwa Committee of AMJA has always adopted the opinion that if the moon is sighed from a trust worthy source(s) anywhere in the world that shared part of the night with the United States of America, and with the condition that the moon sighting is astronomically possible, then that marks the beginning of Ramadan. AMJA acknowledges other valid and legitimate opinions that disagrees with the aforementioned decision and we encourage muslims to accept and respect other opinions.

Thus, we send this announcement and praise Allah, the all mighty, and ask Him to lift the hardship placed on Muslims throughout the world, and specially in Syria, we ask Allah to bless this month of Ramadan and to guide us to the best, and to accept our good deeds, Ameen.

Saudi Arabia

Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, will begin on tomorrow (Sunday, June, 29, 2014) in Saudi Arabia, the state-run Al-Ekhbariya television channel reported last night.

Citing the authorities, it said that because the crescent moon was unable to be seen with the naked eye last night, Ramadan would begin tomorrow.

According to tradition, it is the sighting with the naked eye of the new moon that signals the start of Ramadan.

Other Gulf monarchies, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates also said Ramadan will start in their countries tomorrow.