# Moon Sighting & Islamic Dates in the UK — How Ramadan & Eid Are Decided > How the Islamic (Hijri) calendar and moon sighting work in the UK — why Ramadan and Eid dates can differ, the main methods UK communities follow, and how the confirmed date is announced. *Source: https://prayer-times.co.uk/moon-sighting · Independent, free UK prayer times.* --- Independent · Free · No adverts · No tracking [🌙 6 Muharram 1448 AH](/hijri-date "Islamic (Hijri) date — click to convert") [UK Prayer Times](/) [Home](/) [Mosques](/mosques) [Jummah](/jummah) [Calendar](/islamic-calendar) [Guides](/blog) Islamic calendar · United Kingdom # Moon sighting & Islamic dates in the UK How the Hijri calendar and moon sighting work, why Ramadan and Eid dates can differ between mosques, and how the confirmed date is announced. [See key Islamic dates](/islamic-calendar) [Ramadan timetable →](/ramadan) The basics ## How the Islamic month begins The Islamic (Hijri) calendar is **lunar**: each of its 12 months lasts 29 or 30 days and begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon (_hilāl_) shortly after sunset. Because a lunar year is about **354 days** — roughly 11 days shorter than the Gregorian solar year — Islamic dates such as Ramadan move about 11 days earlier each year. On the evening of the 29th day, observers look for the crescent. If it is seen and the testimony is accepted, the new month begins the next day. If it is not seen, the current month completes 30 days and the new month follows. This single rule — sight the crescent, or complete thirty days — governs the start of Ramadan, the two Eids, Muharram and every other Islamic month. Why dates differ ## The main methods UK communities follow ### Local UK moon sighting The new crescent (hilāl) is looked for from within the UK after sunset on the 29th day of the Islamic month. If it is seen and the testimony accepted, the new month begins the next day; if not, the current month completes 30 days. Bodies such as Wifaqul Ulama coordinate UK-wide sighting reports. ### Global / Makkah-following sighting Some communities and mosques begin the month based on a confirmed sighting anywhere in the Muslim world, most commonly following the announcement from Saudi Arabia (Umm al-Qura). This is why some UK mosques may start Ramadan or celebrate Eid a day earlier or later than others. ### Astronomical calculation A minority follow a pre-calculated calendar based on the astronomical conjunction and crescent visibility criteria, so dates are known in advance. Most UK scholars, however, require an actual or reported sighting to confirm the month. None of these approaches is universal in the UK, which is why two mosques in the same city can occasionally begin Ramadan — or celebrate Eid — a day apart. The safest practice is to follow the announcement of your local mosque or the sighting body it relies on. Finding out ## How to know the confirmed date Confirmed dates are normally announced on the **evening of the 29th**, once sighting reports have been reviewed. To stay up to date: - Follow your **local mosque** and the sighting body it relies on. - Check our [Islamic calendar](/islamic-calendar) for the expected dates of Ramadan, the two Eids and other key days (all subject to moon sighting). - For fasting and Suhoor/Iftar planning, see the [Ramadan timetable](/ramadan) for your city. Remember: daily [prayer times](/cities) are calculated from the sun and are precise and known in advance — moon sighting only affects the _dates of the months_, not the five daily prayers. ## Frequently asked questions Why do Ramadan and Eid fall on different days for different mosques in the UK? Because UK communities follow different methods for starting the Islamic month — some rely on a local UK moon sighting, others follow a global sighting (often the Saudi announcement), and a few use astronomical calculation. When the crescent is borderline, these methods can differ by a day, so neighbouring mosques may begin Ramadan or celebrate Eid on different dates. How is the new Islamic month confirmed? The Islamic (Hijri) calendar is lunar. Each month has 29 or 30 days and begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon after sunset. On the 29th evening, observers look for the crescent: if it is seen and verified, the new month starts the next day; if not, the current month completes 30 days and the new month starts the day after. How will I know the confirmed date of Ramadan or Eid? Confirmed dates are usually announced on the evening of the 29th, once sighting reports are reviewed. Follow your local mosque, national sighting bodies, or check our Islamic calendar page, which lists the expected dates (all subject to moon sighting). What is the difference between the Hijri calendar and the Gregorian calendar? The Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar of 12 months totalling about 354 days — roughly 11 days shorter than the 365-day Gregorian solar year. This is why Islamic dates such as Ramadan move about 11 days earlier each Gregorian year. Is moon sighting the same as the start of the prayer-time day? No. Daily prayer times are calculated from the sun (dawn, noon, sunset), so they are precise and known in advance. Moon sighting only determines the start of each Islamic month — the dates of Ramadan, the two Eids, Muharram and so on. UK Prayer Times Accurate daily prayer times for cities across the UK, calculated with the Muslim World League method. 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