Dar al-Fatwa's logo. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Dar al-Fatwa, the highest Sunni religious authority in Lebanon, has called on Muslims to look for the crescent moon announcing the start of the month of Ramadan on Tuesday, March 21, in the evening. If the crescent is sighted, Ramadan will begin on Wednesday, March 22 for Sunnis.
Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel-Latif Derian will meet with Sunni dignitaries from Arab countries to confirm this date, Dar al-Fatwa said in a statement.
In early March, the office of Shiite cleric Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah announced that Thursday, March 23, would mark the first day of the month of Ramadan for his community.
During Ramadan, one of the five pillars of Islam, believers are asked to abstain from drinking, eating, smoking and having sex from dawn until sunset.
Muslims are also called upon to give alms for the poor during the month of fasting.
Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, the "Feast of the Breaking of the Fast."