As Ramadan is a lunar month, its beginning is determined by the sighting of the new moon. Thus, if someone sights the new moon himself, or confirms its sighting by a Muslim person of integrity, or gets to know of it, the month is deemed to have started. If the new moon is not sighted, and no Muslim testifies to sighting it, it becomes obligatory to complete the preceding month, Shaban 30 days. The beginning of Ramadan can only be confirmed by one of these two ways: the sighting of the new moon or completing the month of Sha'ban 30 days.
