An-Najah News - The first day of fasting for the holy month of Ramadan, which is determined by the sighting of the new moon, is likely to be Friday, April 24 in most Arab nations, with several still under lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Qatar, Egypt, Indonesia, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and many other Muslim nations are likely to begin fasting starting Friday.

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, many activities during Ramadan are certain to be curtailed in Muslim-majority nations in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Saudi Arabia's government said it would maintain the ban on all congregation prayers in the country, including Taraweeh - a set of special prayers that take place during the holy month.

In the United States and Europe, Muslim communities rely on astronomical calculations and are likely to observe Ramadan from Thursday evening as well, with Friday being the first day of fasting.

Calculations by astronomers say Ramadan's new moon will be born on April 23 at 02:27 GMT, the Qatar Calendar House (QCH) announced.

On that day, the moon will be visible on in Central, North and South America. On April 24, the moon will be easily spotted in most parts of the world.

The actual visibility of the crescent will depend on factors such as atmospheric conditions, cloudiness and the distance between the sun and the moon on the horizon.