The Shaban crescent was not seen in Saudi Arabia, according to the Saudi government. As a result, the last day of the Hijri month Rajab will be tomorrow Sunday, and the first day of Shaban will be Monday, according to local media.

Because of the heavy dust and sandstorm sweeping the region, Saudi authorities were unable to see the crescent. According to the Saudi Press Agency, “a dust storm swept the northern area of the country, including Al Jawf, the capital Riyadh, Qassim, Hail, as well as eastern parts of Mecca and Medina” (SPA).

Oman and Malaysia have already declared that the Hijri month of Rajab will end on Sunday, and the month of Shaban will begin on Monday. Since Shaban is the last lunar month before Ramadan, Muslims use it to decide the first day of Ramadan fasting. Ramadan will begin on April 13 if the moon is visible, based on the last day of Shaban. Shaban is essential for a variety of reasons. It is, first and foremost, the time when Muslims begin to prepare for the month of Ramadan. It was in the middle of the month of Shaban that Muslims believe God instructed Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) to change the Qiblah, or path of prayer, from Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem to the Holy Kaabah in Mecca.

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