A moon sighting has been scheduled on Friday, February 28, in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to determine the start of Ramadan or the sacred month of fasting and prayer for Muslims worldwide.

Bangsamoro Mufti Sheikh Abdulrauf A. Guialani will lead the moon sighting event, according to a news release from the Bangsamoro Information Office.

The start of Ramadan is announced when the first quarter of the new moon is visible to the naked eye. Religious scholars meet annually to determine the exact date, which may vary per country.

Ramadan marks the beginning of Islamic tradition on the month-long commitment to self-discipline, worship, and charitable acts to commemorate the divine revelations received by Islam's Prophet Mohammed.

During this period, adult Muslims are required to fast from food, drink and other physical needs from dawn to sunset, and to pray and do acts of kindness.

The Bangsamoro government urged Muslims to prepare their hearts and minds for the upcoming Ramadan and to await the official announcement as to when it will start.

"May we be blessed with a month filled with spiritual growth, patience, and immense rewards," the statement of the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta, the Islamic advisory council, read. #