NEWS




24April
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Grand Mufti Abuhuraira A. Udasan. (Photo courtesy of BPI-BARMM)

Ramadhan starts on April 24-Grand Mufti Udasan

Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao – Sheikh Abuhuraira Udasan, Bangsamoro Grand Mufti, and Executive Director of Darul Ifta, the highest Islamic religious authority in the country, announced Wednesday evening April 23, that the fasting month of Ramadhan officially begins today, April 24
This declaration came after several moon sighting teams failed to see the crescent moon on Wednesday evening who held moon sighting in various parts of the Bangsamoro Region to determine the official beginning of the fasting month of Ramadhan.

“By the authority vested in me as grand mufti in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), I hereby declare that we shall start the fasting month of Ramadhan on Friday, April 24,” Abuhuraira Udasan, Grand Mufti, and head of Darul Ifta (Islamic House of Opinion), said Wednesday evening.

Udasan said that the moon sighting teams failed to see the crescent moon on Wednesday, so automatically fasting begins on Friday” He admitted that Muslims are facing a huge challenge due to the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

Many Islamic scholar in the country see the Ramadhan observance this year as more challenging due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown being enforced by local authorities. The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) have adversely restricted the movement of people.
Ramadan the most sacred month for Muslims all over the world.

For Muslims, fasting is not just abstaining from food and drinks, but reflection and repentance from sins or misdeeds made the previous year.