Ramadan Time Differences Cause Fasting Delays for Some; With Moon Sightings Differing, Muslim Americans Start Fasting On Two Separate Days

Hasiba Haq: As Muslims prepared for the strenuous 30 days of Ramadan ahead, the first day of Ramadan became an issue for many. Muslim Americans in New York are fasting on different days. Some started on Wednesday, August 11th, while others plan to begin fasting on Thursday, August 12th.

“It’s the sighting of the moon that is throwing all of this off,” says Mamnunul Haq, who will start fasting on August 12th. “Each Imam has their own way of telling when fasting begins and that just causes confusion.”

Imam Man Mirza Aslam Begum of the Jamaica Muslim Center in Queens said the Mosque was following global sightings of the moon. Since the moon was visible in Jordan and Oman, fasting, he believed, started on the 11th.

On the contrary, Imam Hafez Zukiful Chowdury of the Medina Masjid in Queens said the mosque was following national moon sightings. The moon was not visible here in the U.S., thus delaying Ramadan to the day after.

With the different start dates of Ramadan, Eid will be off balance as well. “If we’re starting on different days, then Eid will be on different days as well. It’s a problem every year, and it needs to be solved.” Says Fatema Haq, who will begin fasting on August 12th.

Mohammed Mehrab Mahtab Hussain, and 8th grade student began fasting on August 11th. “For me, it doesn’t matter. It was planned to be on the 11th so I started fasting. They need to get these date issues fixed.”