Filipino Muslims gather in an evening prayer and iftar at the Blue Mosque in Taguig City during Ramadan in 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/file

MANILA - The holy month of Ramadan in the Philippines will begin Sunday, March 2, 2025, according to the Bangsamoro Grand Mufti.

Sheikh Abdulrauf Guialani made the announcement on Friday, February 28, 2025 after the assigned groups performed moon sighting all over the country.

"By the authority vested in me as the Bangsamoro Mufti, I, Abdulrauf A. Guialani, hereby announce that the crescent moon was not sighted today. Therefore, Ramadan fasting 2025 will officially commence on Sunday, March 2, 2025, In Shaa Allah," the Grand Mufti said.

"Happy Ramadhan 1446, and may Allah shower His blessings and mercy upon all of us."

The date of the start of Ramadan varies in different countries since it depends on lunar sighting in each respective location: "Fast when you see it (the crescent of Ramadan) and break the fast when you see it (the crescent of Shawwal)."

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.  

Marked as a period of fasting and praying, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset.

Exemptions include those who are physically or mentally ill, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and elderly people if fasting will cause their health to deteriorate further.

Muslims also abstain from smoking and engaging in any sexual activity during the holy month of Ramadan.

Meanwhile, Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and is celebrated during the first three days of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. The announcement of the date will also be announced by the mufti based on the result of the moon sighting at that time.