People walk near Ramadan lanterns, or Fanoos Ramadan, which are displayed for sale at shops a day ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, in Cairo (Photo: Reuters)
Egypt's Dar Al-Ifta, the main authority responsible for issuing religious edicts, announced that the Islamic holy month of Ramadan will start on Thursday.
A religious committee is formed by Dar El-Ifta to observe whether the crescent has appeared.
Ramadan crescent was not spotted in the sky on Tuesday, marking the begining of Ramadan on Thursday. The begining of the month is contingent upon the sighting of the crescent.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims abstain from drinking and eating from dawn until dusk.
Ramadan comes roughly 10 days earlier every year, with noontime temperatures expected to reach up to 40 degrees this year.
Day light savings was not applied this summer. Ramadan will fall during the summer for several years to come.
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