MARAWI CITY (PIA)—The Bangsamoro Darul Ifta (BDI) announced that the holy month of Ramadhan will commence, March 23.

Bangsamoro Jurist and Deputy Mufti Abdulrauf Guialani announced this on Tuesday night after receiving reports from regional moon-sighting committees across BARMM.

"They (the said groups) have performed what they were assigned to do, and then finally, the result of the moon-sighting is that the moon-crescent has not been sighted," he said.

Accordingly, the date of the start of Ramadhan varies in different areas or regions, as the Hadith of Allah’s Messenger says, "Fast when you see it (the crescent of Ramadhan) and break the fast when you see it (the crescent of Shawwal)."

Muslims all over the world observe Ramadhan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, as a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection. During this period, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn until sunset. Ramadhan is also a time for self-discipline, spiritual reflection, and acts of charity.

The Darul Ifta encourages all Muslims in BARMM to observe Ramadhan in accordance with Islamic teachings and to use the holy month as an opportunity to deepen their faith, increase their acts of charity, and seek forgiveness from Allah. (BIO/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)