Ramadan to begin Wednesday

The fasting month of Ramadan begins in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as nobody sighted the new crescent on Monday. “Tomorrow, July 9 will be the 30th day of Shaaban and the holy month of Ramadan begins on July 10,” the Royal Court said in an official statement.
The Royal Court announcement was based on a decision taken by the Supreme Court after meeting in Taif yesterday.
The beginning of Ramadan is decided after sighting the new moon. If it was not sighted on Shaaban 29 as a result of low visibility, then the month will have 30 days.
The Supreme Court congratulated Muslims all over the world on the advent of Ramadan and hoped it would strengthen their unity and improve relations among them.
Muslims around the world greet the holy month of Ramadan with utmost respect and happiness. It is compulsory for Muslims to fast in this month to purify their minds and make them spiritually and physically healthy.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) told his companions on the last day of Shaaban: “O people! A great month has come to you; it is a blessed month in which there is a night (Lailat Al-Qadr) that is better than a thousand months; Whoever tries to attain the pleasure of God by performing any of the optional deeds shall receive the same reward of performing an obligatory one in other days, and whoever performs an obligatory deed shall receive the reward of performing 70 obligations.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) added: “It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Heaven. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer's sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Hell, and he will get the same reward of that fasting person, without lessening the latter’s reward.” Mohammed Badahdah, assistant secretary-general of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth, said: “We have to change ourselves to make this Ramadan a different experience. We have to make special preparations for Ramadan and change the atmosphere to get the maximum benefit out of it and achieve the end result of becoming pious and God-fearing Muslims.”