First day of Ramadan will be Monday, June 6, 2016 and Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday, July 6, 2016, insha'Allah.

"O you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint." Qur’an 2: 183

The Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) recognizes astronomical calculation as an acceptable Shar’i method for determining the beginning of lunar months including the months of Ramadan and Shawwal. FCNA uses Makkah al-Mukarrama as a conventional point and takes the position that the conjunction must take place before sunset in Makkah and moon must set after sunset in Makkah.

On the basis of this method, the dates of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr for the year 1437 AH are established as follows:

1st of Ramadan will be on Monday, June 6, 2016

1st of Shawwal will be on Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Ramadan 1437 AH:

The Astronomical New Moon is on Sunday, June 5, 2016, at 3:00 Universal Time (6:00 a.m. Makkah time). Sunset at Makkah on June 5 is at 7:01 p.m., while moonset is at 7:23 p.m. Moon is born before sunset in Makkah and moonset is after sunset. Therefore, first day of Ramadan 1437 is on Monday, June 6, 2016, insha'Allah. First Tarawih prayer will be on Sunday night.

Eid al-Fitr 1437 AH:

The Astronomical New Moon is on Monday, July 4, 2016, at 11:01 Universal Time (2:01 p.m. on July 4, Makkah time). On July 4, sunset at Makkah is 7:07 p.m. and moonset is at 7:04 p.m. Moon is born before sunset in Makkah and moonset is before sunset. Therefore, first day of Shawwal 1437 is not on July 5, but is on Wednesday, July 6, 2016, insha'Allah.

May Allah (swt) keep us on the right path, and accept our fasting and prayers. Ameen.

For more detailed information, please visit: www.fiqhcouncil.org or www.moonsighting.com