Muslims prepare for Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection, starting at sunset Friday and ending March 30. Follow Newsweek's live blog.

Ramzan crescent has been sighted in Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia but India, Pakistan Sri Lanka, Philippines to begin fasting from March 02. Catch all the latest updates here!

Ramadan is not uniformly observed globally — the start date can vary by country or even be different mosque to mosque in the same city for a variety of reasons. But it all starts with a sighting of the crescent moon.

February 28 marks the 29th of Shaban. If the moon is sighted today, the first Roza will be on March 1; otherwise, fasting will begin on March 2.

Several countries across the world are preparing to observe the holy month of Ramadan 2025. Based on moon sightings in several countries, the appropriate

However, unlike other religious holidays, Ramadan doesn't start on the same day each year. This is because the Islamic calendar follows the moon's cycle. And what can be even more confusing is that different groups might give slightly different dates for when Ramadan starts,

Ramadan happens in the ninth month of the Islam calendar. The sighting of the crescent moon determines the beginning and the end of the Ramadan month. Several religious authorities in the Islam community get together and decide the dates of Ramadan, on the basis of the moon sighting on these dates.

Ramadan 2025 is expected to start on March 1 or March 2 depending on the crescent moon sighting. The beginning of fasting will be confirmed by local committees in Saudi Arabia, UAE, India, and Pakistan.

Muhammad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, has announced the sighting of the crescent moon for the commencement of Ramadan fasting. In a broadcast on Friday, the Sultan, who is also the president of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), said Saturday marks the beginning of Ramadan fasting for Muslims in the country.

For Muslims in Saudi Arabia and most Sunni-ruled Middle Eastern states Ramadan will begin on Saturday, but in Shiite-majority Iran and Iraq it will start the following day, authorities announced.

Ramadan 2025, the holy month of fasting will begin after crescent moon sighting. This year, a rare alignment of Islamic and Gregorian calendars occurs, with fasting possibly starting on March 1 for many countries.