Muslims in Cameroon are anticipating the date of this year’s Ramadan fasting, which begins next week, as the National Moon Crescent Commission makes final observations.
In a recent statement, the Commission indicated that Muslim faithful should prepare to begin fasting on either Sunday, March 10, Monday, March 11, or Tuesday, March 12, based on the sighting of the moon.
“The National Moon Crescent Commission informs the Muslim Community of Cameroon that the search for the moon crescent to mark the beginning of the month of Ramadan will be on Sunday, March 10, 2024,” the commission said.
“If the lunar crescent is seen on this date, the fast of Ramadan will begin, in Sha Allah, on March 11, 2024. Otherwise, the month of Shaaban will be completed in 30 days, and the fast will automatically begin,” it added.
During the sacred month of Ramadan, Muslims engage in various forms of self-discipline, including abstaining from drinking, eating, vomiting, and engaging in sexual activities between dusk and dawn.
The duration of fasting can extend for 29, 30, or a maximum of 31 days.
In preparation for the beginning of Ramadan, the Imam of the Buea Central Mosque, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, urged Muslims to embrace love, devotion, and peace during this holy month, particularly in the face of the ongoing conflicts in the country.
Fasting, the fourth pillar of Islam, follows the principles of belief in the oneness of Allah and his Messenger, Muhammed, alongside prayers, alms, and pilgrimage.
The culmination of fasting is the celebratory feast when Muslims express gratitude and praise to Allah.
