Tomorrow declared the first of Ramadan

Islamic Ministry has declared that tomorrow is the first of Ramadan.

The announcement issued after the moon sighting ceremony held at the Islamic Centre said that tomorrow, February 18, is the first of Ramadan.

This decision was reached as the moon has been sighted in some Islamic nations after sunset today, and reliable astronomical calculations indicate that the moon would have been sighted in Maldives as well today, the Islamic ministry said.  

The Maldives' calendar also lists tomorrow as the beginning of Ramadan. Some other Islamic countries, however, have announced that Ramadan will start on February 19 there. 

In Maldives, the moon remained below the horizon at sunset today. However, in Addu at the southern tip, it briefly rose above the water and was visible for less than a minute at sunset. 

So, although the moon was not be visible to the naked eye, astronomical calculations show that Ramadan will start in Maldives tomorrow. The moon was visible above the horizon at sunset today in Saudi Arabia as well, with the country also marking tomorrow as Ramadan 1.