Ramadan is expected to start in April 2020. It is likely to be either 23rd April, 24th April or 25th April.
But what is the exact date? As usually are we going to have multiple starting dates?
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Islamic months are based on moon sighting. The sighting varies with the regions. So, it isn’t very easy to say the exact date beforehand.
However, Saudi Arabia maintains the annual Islamic calendar (Umm Al Qura Calander) which shows starting dates for months for the next ten years. According to the calendar, the first Ramadan will start on 24th April 2020.
https://www.staff.science.uu.nl/~gent0113/islam/ummalqura.htm
Despite the calendar, Saudi Arabia still need proofs (shahadah) that someone saw moon particular for Ramaḍān and Shawwāl.
Sometimes it is beyond understanding how someone could sight the moon while science said it was impossible to observe the moon in the area.
It is a simple issue but we have made the solution so much complicated. We have always taken help from science, even in five-time prayers timetable. But when it comes to Ramadan and Eid then as usually we start arguing and challenging each other.
How beautiful it could be that the whole Islamic world could celebrate together as one unit.
This year, the 1st Ramadan is highly likely to be on 24th April. You can see the three the following images from HMNAO’s Moon Watch. http://astro.ukho.gov.uk/moonwatch/nextnewmoon.html
It would be hard to see the moon in Saudi Arabia on 23rd April
It would be easy to see the moon even through naked eyes in most parts of the world on 24th April.
The question is if the moon is only visible on 24th and cannot be seen on 23rd so how come the Ramadan can be declared for 24th. That is the tricky part and where all the issues of two Eids and two Ramadan starts. In theory, Ramadan, End of Ramadan or Eid should be declared when someone sees the new moon of that month. But Arabs try to see the moon on the day of the birth of a new moon. Now, when they do not see it. They declare the next day as the start of the month.
Well, when it comes to Ramadan, it is not all black and white. Politics come to play or I would even call nonsense.
In Pakistan, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday said “Ramzan moon will be sighted on April 24, with the Ramzan to start from April 25,” Chaudhry said in a post on Twitter.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/274574-ramadan-2020-first-roza-on-april-25-claims-fawad-chaudhry
Ramadan to begin on Friday as the UAE’s moon-sighting committee to meet on Thursday. So, this time they would set on 23rd. If they were to set to see the moon on 23rd then yes the Ramadan would be on 24th.
So far the following countries announced moon sighting and tomorrow (24 April 2020) will be the first of Ramadan.