Iraqi Shiite group declares Friday first day of Ramadan under solar calendar

A page linked to Iraqi Shiite cleric Farqad al-Qazwini declared Friday the first day of Ramadan, citing a solar 'Muhammadi calendar' rather than the lunar Hijri one.

• A Facebook page named "Talaba al-Sayyid Farqad al-Qazwini" published the announcement, which ties Ramadan to the sun's movement instead of crescent sighting.
• The page described the calendar as a solar-astronomical system under which Ramadan always coincides with October and doubles as the start of the Hijri year.
• Egypt's Dar al-Ifta announced Monday, October 12, as the first day of Jumada al-Awwal 1448 AH, following the lunar calendar.
• Azhar scholar Sheikh Ahmed Tark said in earlier remarks that God established twelve months and provided both solar and lunar calendars.