After Kuwaiti astronomer Adel Al-Saadoun stirred controversy in the past couple of days by firmly asserting the impossibility of sighting the crescent moon and stating that the first day of Ramadan will be on March 12, he stood by his opinion. Despite dozens of Arab countries announcing the beginning of Ramadan on Monday, he refused to back down, emphasizing that his statements are based on pure science. This sparked a second wave of debate among his followers on social media. While some users on the platform X considered his previous explanations logical and scientific, others viewed it as mere obstinacy.
Last night, the astronomer tweeted on his X account saying, "On the occasion of the blessed month entering on Monday, I will stop responding to bullies." He also labeled those who attacked and criticized him as "electronic flies." Al-Saadoun asserted last Sunday that Ramadan would begin on Tuesday and explained in a tweet at that time, stating: "Ramadan is scientifically on March 11 and according to legal sighting on March 12." He added, "The crescent moon of Ramadan will be born on Sunday, 29th of Sha'ban 1445, corresponding to March 10, 2024, at 12 PM, and thus it is impossible to see it that same evening, neither with the naked eye nor with a telescope." He further confirmed that "the crescent will be sighted on the evening of March 11, making the beginning of Ramadan according to legal sighting on March 12." However, his calculations did not align with the calculations and sightings of many major Arab and Islamic countries last Sunday.
