Amid the early announcement by European and American Muslims of the start of their Ramadan fasting on August 21 and 22, respectively, Filipino Islamic religious leaders (ulama) will adhere to the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Allaihi Wassalam as they appeal to all local Muslims to await the result of Thursday's sighting of the new crescent moon.

In the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the city of Marawi, Ustadhz Solaiman Farid Adas said the ARMM populace will follow the lead of the the Darul Iftah (House of Opinion) based in Cotabato City and headed by Ustadhz Omar Pasigan, which will hold moon sighting or search for the appearance of the Ramadan crescent on Thursday, August 20.

Darul Iftah groups many top-ranking ulama (muftis) of the ARMM. Pasigan is one of the Philippines' most senior ulama. The word ulama is the plural of alim, which means a learned one or scholar on Islam.

ARMM Gov. Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan has asked the religious sector of the region to coordinate with other ulama to determine a simultaneous start of the first day of Ramadan and fasting, said Adas.

Earlier, the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) declared the first day of Ramadan, ninth month of the Hijrah Islamic calendar, and fasting this Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Their announcement quoted on www.islamonline.net said they have relied on astronomical calculations to determine when the Ramadan crescent moon will appear.

ECFR urged all Muslims to follow the path of science. "Astronomy is a modern science that reached a great level of accuracy in determining the start and end of lunar months.

We also ask mosque officials and scholars in all Muslim countries to respect the clear-cut results of the astronomical calculations to help unify Muslims worldwide," the ECFR added.

In Metro Manila, the National Ulama Conference of the Philippines (NUCP), through its spokesman, Prof. Moner Bajunaid, wants all Muslims to adhere to the teachings of the prophet Islam, among them, to first sight the new crescent moon to determine Ramadan's first day.

Personally, Bajunaid, NUCP secretary-general, said he has no problem with scientific method, but Filipino ulama are not yet well-versed with astronomy.

"So, we have to follow the old practice of sighting the moon because it is also based on the Holy Qur'an," said the NUCP official.

Another religious leader, Ustadhz Muhammad Cana, an adviser on religious matters to the Office on Muslim Affairs (OMA), said "it is not easy to abandon the prophet's practice. He is the model of every Muslim and that still stands today," said Cana.