File Photo: Egypt's Grand Mufti Shawqi Allam (Photo: AFP)
Tuesday will mark the start of the New Hijri Year 1440, Egypt's Dar al Iftaa announced Sunday.
Dar Al Iftaa's Sharia and scientific committees nationwide failed to spot the crescent of Muharram on sunday, meaning that the New Hijri year will start Tuesday, Grand Mufti Shawky Allam said in a statement.
The Hijri calendar, which began in AD 622, is a lunar calendar that determines for Muslims around the globe the date of the holy month of Ramadan -- during which Muslims fast during daylight hours -- as well as the Hajj pilgrimage and Muslim festivals.
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