{Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with the righteous [who fear Him].} (Surat At-Tawbah 9:36).
And as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)instructed: “Start fasting on seeing the crescent (of Ramadan), and give up fasting on seeing the crescent (of Shawwal), and if the sky is overcast (and you cannot see it), complete thirty days of Sha’ban.” Narrated Abu Huraira, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 133.
On (Thursday May 25, 2017, designated for the Day of Observation (Yawm Ar Ro’ya) the Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) will occur at 19:44 UTC.
However, no one on earth will be able to observe it because moonset will take place with sunset in some countries while it will even precede sunset in others.
Generally, to observe the new crescent, moonset shall take place after sunset by a few minutes.
On Friday May 26, the moon can be seen with difficulty in Southeast Asia, but can easily be seen in Africa and Americas. This means that the majority of Muslim countries will start Ramadan on Saturday the 27th of May.
On Saturday May 27, the moon will be easily observed in the entire world, meaning that Friday May 26 is the last day of the month of Shaaban 1438.
The Hijri calendar is a lunar one, and months begin when its first crescent is sighted. The Hijri day starts after sunset.
Since the Hijri year is 10 to 11 days shorter than the solar year and contains no intercalation, this means that Ramadan begins about eleven days earlier every year than in the previous one.
Happy Ramadan to you all!