PLAINFIELD, N.J., Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Ramadan, the Muslim holy month marked by fasting during the day, begins this week.
The holy month begins on the first day following the first spotting of the crescent moon after the end of the Muslim calendar's eighth month. The Indianapolis Star reports that North American Muslims are sometimes out of synch with Muslims elsewhere in the world, who follow Saudi Arabia's lead, because of inconsistencies in the moon's appearance.
The Islamic Society of North America, headquartered in Plainfield, N.J., fields its own moon watch with scientists scanning the sky and taking telephone calls from Muslims who believe they saw the crescent moon.
Khalid Shaukat, a scientist from Silver Springs, Va., has created his own computer program that allows him to plug in reports of crescent moon sightings and determine if someone has mistaken another heavenly or flying object for the moon.
This year, Tuesday appears to be the official beginning of Ramadan for the Saudis, while the North Americans will wait until Wednesday. But most Muslims do not believe the one-day discrepancy matters.
Ramadan ends with the next crescent moon.
