By Ruaa Khishaifati

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Sheikh Abdullah Al-Manie, member of the Council of Senior Scholars, believes that Thursday (May 17) will be the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.

He said the crescent should be sighted on Tuesday which is Shaban 29 (May 15) as the month is usually of 29 days, according to the astronomical calculations.

"If the moon was not sighted on the night of Tuesday, then Wednesday (May 16) will be the 30th and the last day of Shaban," he said.

Manie said Tuesday (May 15) should be the last day of Shaban after which Ramadan should start but if the moon could not be sighted, the next day, Wednesday May 16, should be the 30th and last day of Shaban.

He asked all people to sight the Ramadan moon on Tuesday and not to differ on the advent of the fasting month if the moon was sighted.

"People do not usually differ on the days of Shaban but can disagree on the sighting of the moon," he said.

Manie said the sun will set at 6:52 p.m. on Tuesday while the moon will rise two minutes later at 6:54 p.m.