The Fun of the Islamic Calendar

The Islamic calendar does not have a leap month like some other calendars, making Ramadan 2024 officially begin in winter weather.

On March 11, astronomical agencies in many Arab countries announced the official start of Ramadan. In some countries, a thin, razor-sharp crescent moon can already be seen in the night sky. This is one of the easily recognizable signs to determine the start of Ramadan.

The crescent moon observed from Saudi Arabia marks the beginning of Ramadan in 2024. (Source: Internet)

Thus, after many years of taking place in the summer weather, in 2024 Ramadan officially falls in the winter, and will only return to the summer after… 27 years. Why does this phenomenon occur?

Step back in time

Unlike the lunar calendar of East Asian countries such as Vietnam, China, etc., the traditional Islamic calendar, the most popular tool to determine the time of Ramadan, does not specify a leap month.

In the Islamic calendar, a year always has a fixed number of days of about 354. Because it is not equivalent to the Catholic calendar (also known as the solar calendar), Islamic months are often 10 days behind the previous month.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is therefore not fixed and can occur at any time of the year.

According to the calendar cycle, Ramadan began during the hot weather from around 2006-2007. This factor combined with the effects of climate change has made Ramadan in recent years a real challenge for people in many Arab countries, especially in countries with little greenery and a lot of desert land.

Praying during the summer month of Ramadan requires a lot of effort from Muslims. (Source: Arab Weekly)

When Ramadan of the 2024 calendar year begins, temperatures in many countries in the region will still be low, and the transition of seasons has not really taken place. This is considered the first holy month to take place in cool weather, and the phenomenon of Ramadan falling in winter will last until... 2051, that is, 27 years from now, according to Arab.

Mild climate for diwaniyas

The fact that Ramadan no longer falls in the summer brings many benefits and joys to people in Arab countries. As an important month that requires Muslims to commit to the laws related to fasting, Ramadan falling in the winter this year helps reduce the number of fasting hours per day, thereby creating conditions for people to follow the laws of Islam more seriously.

The weather in many Arab countries is still cool these days; this is also a favorable factor for organizing many gatherings after iftar, the meal that breaks the fast at sunset. Diwaniya, gatherings that mainly take place in Gulf countries, are being held more frequently during Ramadan this year.

An iftar meal in Pakistan during Ramadan in 2024. (Source: AP)

If in the past, when Ramadan fell in the summer, there were few opportunities for entertainment activities and fairs to be organized, this year, in the holiday month, venues such as parks, shopping malls, etc. are also ready to extend the organization time longer than usual. Camping activities in the desert in some countries have also been extended until the end of Ramadan.

The climatic advantages will be felt even more clearly when Ramadan officially enters winter in 2028. At that time, the daily life of Arab countries will surely shift to a new cycle.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thang-le-ramadan-roi-va-o-mu-a-dong-su-thu-vi-cu-a-lich-ho-i-giao-264837.html