ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Ulama Council of Zamboanga Peninsula and Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta declared that the holy period of Ramadan officially starts on Sunday, March 2.
Sheikh Abdulrauf Guialani, Bangsamoro Mufti, made the declaration on Friday, Feb. 28, based on results of moon-sighting activities on the same day where moon-sighters reportedly failed to sight the crescent moon that would signal the start of the Ramadan period for all Muslims.

Moon-sighting activities at the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao were conducted in official locations: Timako, Cotabato City; Linek, Tapian Kusiong, and Parang, Maguindanao del Norte; Sunkist Bay Walk, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; Capitol Isabela City, Basilan; Barangay Margis, Sarangani; Mingkay Beach, Misamis Oriental; and Manila Bay.
A similar announcement was made by the Ulama Council of Zamboanga Peninsula on its Facebook page on Friday.
“Ramadan is the ninth month of the Hijri calendar and fasting in this month is the fourth pillar of Islam,” the Ulama Council of Zamboanga Peninsula said about the significance of Ramadan on its social media page.
The holy month of Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, charity, and prayer.