Former professor of astronomy at Al-Qassim University in Saudi Arabia, Dr Abdullah Al-Massand, has predicted that the first day of Ramadan is expected to be on March 23 in Saudia Arabia, Thursday, based on the convergence of the sun and moon on March 21 at 8:23 pm. Dr Massand also stated that the holy month of Shaban will have 30 days. This prediction aligns with previous forecasts by Ibrahim Al-Jarwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Astronomy Society, who also predicted that the first day of Ramadan would fall on March 23. The Saudi government has announced that the sighting of the moon for the holy month will begin after the sunset of March 21. The crescent of Shaban was sighted in Pakistan on February 21, marking the start of the eighth month of the Islamic calendar.
