BARMM: Moon sighting set for Feb. 28 to determine start of Ramadan

A moon sighting has been scheduled on Friday, February 28, in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to determine the start of the Ramadan.

The BARMM local government unit said Bangsamoro Mufti Sheikh Abdulrauf A. Guialani will lead the moon sighting event.

According to a report of Agence France-Presse, the start of Ramadan is announced when the first quarter of the new moon is visible to the naked eye. Religious scholars meet annually to determine the exact date, which may vary per country.

Ramadan is the month-long fasting and prayer tradition of Muslims worldwide to commemorate the divine revelations received by Islam's Prophet Mohammed. Adult Muslims are required to fast from food, drink and other physical needs from dawn to sunset, and to pray and do acts of kindness.

The BARMM LGU said the Bangsamoro community is preparing for the Ramadan, a sacred month of fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection.

The LGU urged Muslims to prepare their hearts and minds for the upcoming Ramadan, one of Islam's Five Pillars, and to await the official announcement as to when Ramadan will start.

"May we be blessed with a month filled with spiritual growth, patience, and immense rewards," the statement of the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta', the Islamic advisory council, read. —KG, GMA Integrated News