Ramadan and related dates

[venusfire503 54]

Ok, according to when-is.com, Ramadan started on Friday, August 21, but in North America, on Saturday, August 22. Although I was even more confused when my mother-in-law said it started in Morocco on Aug 22.

Anyway, I was looking again tonight, and saw that Eid al-Fitr is on Sunday, September 20... does that mean Ramadan is a day shorter here, or did they just fail to mention that it's a day later in North America (Sept. 21)? It also says that Lailat al Kadr is on Sept 15 - Sept 16 in North America. But I also thought (and it quite possible I'm wrong) that Lailat al Kadr is always on day 27 of Ramadan.... which would make it Sept 17 in North America. Unless I'm completely wrong about the start date...

I would just say to be sure, we could just fast on Sept 20, but I read somewhere that it's haram to fast on Eid al-Fitr. If we ate on Sept 20, and 'made up' fasting on Sept 21 and it turns out Eid al-Fitr was actually Sept 21 here, then we'd be wrong anyway... see where this is going?

On a related note, is there a better source for finding these things out? The dates are much more clear in a Muslim country. We don't seem to have a good source for it now. My husband doesn't seem to be very sure either.

Sorry to sound so clueless, but I was raised Catholic... and my husband was the first person I met who I knew was Muslim. I didn't convert (and don't plan to), but have decided to still live the Islamic lifestyle to some extent (like fasting).

Thanks...

venusfire

[MrsAmera 41]

Try www.isna.net http://www.isna.net/Islam/pages/1430th-Ram...-and-Peace.aspx

Aug 22 - Sept 19th are the dates in the US this year.

Hopefully someone else can chime in with a source for the other question!

[Melly 2 0]

If you are following the days of ISNA or another group, then you should be starting and stopping the same days that they are. Fasting is always either 29 or 30 days, never less and never more, and it is based on the moon cycle.

Don't worry about when Morocco started or when they'll stop, you aren't there.

Actually, I think just about everyone started fasting this year on Saturday and because the previous 2 months both had 30 days, this month will only have 29. Which would mean the last day of fasting would be the 19th and the first day of Eid would be the 20th.

If you started fasting a day late, then you will have Eid when everyone else does and make up the days of fasting you missed after Eid is over.

As to Lailat al Kadr, it is one night during the last ten days. Some scholars think that it is more likely to be on the 7th night of those last 10, but there is no guarantee about it, so one should be on the lookout for it during the entire last ten days.

Hope all that made sense. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

[Rezak and Sharon 0]

http://www.istaba.org/

[star_dragon 0]

Try www.isna.net http://www.isna.net/Islam/pages/1430th-Ram...-and-Peace.aspx

Aug 22 - Sept 19th are the dates in the US this year.

Hopefully someone else can chime in with a source for the other question!

So does it end officially at sunset on the 19th? I've read that Eid al Fitr is Sep 20, BUT also read that the holidays start at sunset the day before - so that would mean Sep 19 at sunset is when Eid al Fitr officially begins?

[nunyab 0]

good questions... we started in the nw u.s. on saturday and always like the other poster said 29/30 days. contact your local masjiid is my best advice cause you should be fasting with your locals not necessairly to what MENA is doing, however, that being said I do know many people who do start when Mekka starts so sorry if I am confusing.

[venusfire503 54]

Thanks to everyone for the info.

Yeah, I know I don't really have to worry about when they started fasting in Morocco - just mentioned that because it seemed to be yet another contradiction to what I read... I also know we don't always start on the same day.

Well, we started on Saturday, 8/22/09, so I don't think we started late. I think hubby is concerned that maybe Ramadan isn't just 29 days this year, and doesn't want to quit early. I'll have to talk with him more about this when I get the chance.

Someone posted about the start of Eid... I might be completely wrong about this, so please correct me - I don't want to spread bad information. The way I understand it is that Eid does start at sundown the night before, which would make sense - since we fast until sundown each day, it makes sense that Ramadan (at least in some sense) would end at sundown on the last day. So let's say sundown is at 7:02 pm on September 19 (for example - I could be wrong on the day and time - and it's different depending on where you live anyway), then that's exactly when Eid would start. Does that make sense? More importantly, is that correct?

I'm glad my post made more sense than I thought. I was posting really late last night. There were a few times I'd post on a long thread and then read later that someone else had already posted that info. I also think I was kind of tired and wasn't sure if I was making sense. I guess since I don't drink, I post 'tired' instead of posting drunk. haha

venusfire

P.S. another question. I noticed that for some reason, fasting seemed much easier for me this year. However, I seem to be really sleepy the past day or so... could that be because of Ramadan?

[Sandrila 1]

My calendar said sundown Aug 21...which means fasting begins 22nd (Sat)

To end it says EID is Sunday 20th.

Fasting ends 19th, right?

Does EID follow the 2nd day of fasting.?

[R and F 34]

Fasting in Morocco went really well for us but here in Texas it has not been too great. Farid has gotten sick many times and yesterday he came home from work dizzy and lightheaded. I have also gotten sick from stomach cramps and headaches as well. I believe it is probably the immense heat and humidity here in Texas.