When does Ramadan begin for 2011 ?

So Ramadan is upon us once again, less than a month to go! Each year we find a lot of websites declaring the start date for Ramadan based on calculations and estimates which they fail to declare. This leads people onto believe the start date of Ramadan has been set and decided upon when it's not the case. A lot of people are forgetting the tradition and sunnah taught by our prophet Muhammed.

Allah's Messenger said:

'Whenever you sight the new moon observe fast, and when you sight it break it and if the sky is cloudy for you, then observe fast for thirty days.'

Even if we do have an estimate for Ramadan we should still try and be sure of this.

Ramadan is expected to start on either Sunday 31st of July or Monday 1st of August 2011 depending on the sighting of the new moon and will continue for 30 days until Tuesday, the 30th of August (tentative dates). Dates will be confirmed when the new moon is actually sighted.

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, which consists of 12 months and lasts for about 354 days. The word “Ramadan” is derived from an Arabic word for intense heat, scorched ground and shortness of food and drink. It is considered to be the most holy and blessed month. Fighting is not allowed during this period.

The month of Ramadan traditionally begins with a new moon sighting, marking the start of the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. Many Muslims (except children, the sick and the elderly) abstain from food, drink, and certain other activities during daylight hours in Ramadan. This is considered as the holiest season in the Islamic year and commemorates the time when the Qu’ran (Islamic holy book) is said to have been revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. This occurred on Laylat Al-Qadr, one of the last 10 nights of the month.  Ramadan ends when the first crescent of the new moon is sighted again, marking the new lunar month’s start. Eid-al-Fitr is the Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan.