Sunday, September 24, 2006
Al-Sistani announces beginning of Ramadan for Shias
Religion
A statement released from the office of Ayatollah al-Sistani, one of the highest Shia religious authorities in Iraq, announced that the holy fasting month of Ramadan will begin Monday for Shias. The beginning of Ramadan is determined by the first sighting of the crescent moon, marking the beginning of each month in the Islamic calendar, which follows the lunar cycle. Differences of opinion among religious authorities in different parts of the Islamic world about the citing of the crescent moon often result in Ramadan starting on different days in different places.
