Saudi Arabia has announced that Shaban crescent was not sighted in the Kingdom. Accordingly, tomorrow Sunday will be the last day of the Hijri month Rajab and Monday will mark the first day of Shaban, local media reported.

Saudi authorities could not sight the crescent because of the heavy dust and the sandstorm which is sweeping the country.

“A dust storm swept the northern region of the country, including Al Jawf, the capital Riyadh, Qassim, Hail, as well as eastern parts of Mecca and Medina,” according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Oman and Malaysia have already announced that tomorrow Sunday will be the last day of the Hijri month Rajab and Monday will mark the first day of Shaban.

Shaban is the last lunar month before Ramadan, and so Muslims determine in it when the first day of Ramadan fasting will be. Based on the last day of Shaban, Ramadan might start on April 13, subject to moon-sighting. 

Shaban is significant for many reasons. First, it is the time that Muslims start getting ready for the month of Ramadan. It was in the middle of the month of Shaban when Muslims believe that God ordered Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) to change the Qiblah, the direction towards which Muslims face when they pray, from Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem to the Holy Kaabah in Mecca.

SOURCE GULFNEWS