Ramadan 2021: Saudi Arabia calls for Moon-sighting on Sunday

Sighting of crescent moon will mark the start of the holy month

Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court has called on people to watch for the crescent moon on Sunday. Pawan Singh / The National

Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court called on Muslims in the kingdom to watch for the crescent moon on Sunday evening, which would mark the start of Ramadan.

Whoever spots the Moon, whether with the naked eye or through binoculars, should report it to the nearest court and register their testimony, or ask the local authority in the area where they made the sighting to help them to do so, the Supreme Court said on Friday.

Searching for the new crescent moon can be difficult, because it is usually faint and is visible for only about 20 minutes.

Saudi Arabia said it expected Ramadan to begin on April 12 this year, although this early prediction would still need to be confirmed by a Moon-sighting.

If the Moon is observed over the kingdom on Saturday, the holy month will begin the next day. If not, it will start on Monday, April 12.

The Muslim world typically looks to Saudi Arabia when it comes to deciding the days on which major religious events fall, including the start of Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month.

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A worker cleans and sterilizes the Kaaba, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in the Grand mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia April 21, 2020. Reuters

Workers clean and sterilise the roof of Kaaba, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in the Grand mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia April 21, 2020. Reuters

A mosque is closed in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the Saudi capital Riyadh on April 13, 2020, ahead of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. AFP

Imam Mohammed, muezzin of the Jaffali mosque in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah, announces the prayer call at the mosque which is closed due to a government decree as part of efforts to combat the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on April 28, 2020. AFP

An aerial view shows the Grand Mosque and its surrounding, deserted on the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, in the Saudi holy city of Mecca, on April 24, 2020, during the novel coronavirus pandemic crisis. AFP

A Saudi seller pours dates into a box at his shop, during the 24-hours lockdown to counter the coronavirus disease outbreak, ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia April 20, 2020. Reuters

A worker wearing a protective face mask and gloves fries traditional Ramadan sweets following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, during the holy month of Ramadan in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia April 30, 2020. Reuters

Muslim worshippers perform the "Tarawih" nightly prayer during the holy month of Ramadan, while keeping their distance amid the COVID-19 pandemic, at the Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, in the Saudi city of Mecca, late on May 8, 2020. AFP

A Saudi security guard stands guard as worshippers perform Isha prayer next to the Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site on April 27, 2020. AFP

Muslim worshippers perform the "Tarawih" nightly prayer during the holy month of Ramadan, while keeping their distance amid the COVID-19 pandemic, at the Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, in the Saudi city of Mecca, late on May 8, 2020. AFP

Kitchen staff wear protective face masks and gloves, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, as they prepare Ramadan meal orders for takeaway and delivery at a restaurant in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 26, 2020. Reuters

Workers pass through a self-sterilisation gate set up at an entrance of the Kaaba and the Grand Mosque, as a preventive measure amid the the COVID-19 pandemic during the Muslim month of Ramadan in the Saudi holy city of Mecca, on May 8, 2020. AFP

Men passing through a self-sterilisation gate set up at an entrance of Kaaba and the Grand Mosque as a protective measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus during the holy fasting month of Ramadan in the Saudi holy city of Mecca, May 7, 2020. AFP

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Meanwhile, the Saudi interior ministry announced a fine of 10,000 riyals ($2,666) for attempting to perform the Umrah pilgrimage during Ramadan without a permit.

Anyone caught attempting to enter the holy site of Makkah without a permit will be subject to a 1,000 riyal fine, a source at the ministry told the state Saudi Press Agency.