Liberation
09.05.2013
For the first time in France, the representatives of the Muslim community of the country have used astronomic calculations to determine the dates for the holy Islamic month of Ramadan. The French Council for the Muslim Religion (CFCM) announced that this year’s Ramadan will start on July 9 and finish with the holy fest of Eid-El-Fitr on August 8. Prior to using astronomic calculations, the community organisation has used moon observations in order to determine the commencement of the holy month.
The advantages of adopting a lunar calendar based on astronomic calculations are ‘the foresight, the organisation and the planning’ of the event, says Mohammed Mouassaou, President of the CFCM. According to him, Muslim workers will now more easily be able to demand days off from their employers during the month, schools will be able to adjust their exam period according to the foreseen dates and the Muslim butchers will be able to organise their activities better.
