The crescent moon marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Rajab was sighted in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, signaling the start of the seventh month in the Hijri calendar. With this sighting, the formal countdown to the holy month of Ramadan has begun for Muslims worldwide, according to Gulf News. Rajab is one of the four sacred months in Islam, traditionally observed as a time for spiritual reflection and preparation before Ramadan.

Religious authorities noted that if both Rajab and Sha'ban months complete 29 or 30 days each, Ramadan is expected to begin in about 60 to 61 days. The exact start date will be confirmed by official moon-sighting committees in each country. In Bangladesh, the National Moon Sighting Committee, led by Religious Affairs Adviser A.F.M. Khalid Hossain, is scheduled to meet on Sunday to confirm local sightings. Based on current calculations, Ramadan in South Asia is likely to begin on February 19, unless the moon sighting is delayed by a day.

The sighting of Rajab’s moon marks the beginning of spiritual preparations across the Muslim world, as communities gear up for the fasting month ahead.