Unable to see the appearance of the new crescent moon in the country's horizon that ushers in the start and end of every Islamic month, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), based on the Darul Iftah's “fatwa,” announced Tuesday night that Thursday, August 12, will be the first day of Ramadan and the start of fasting.

NMCF Secretary Bai Omera D. Dialanalan-Lucman sent text messages at 9:56 p.m. last Tuesday to inform everyone of the results of moon-sighting.

“Announcement.: Reports from NCMF Provincial & Regional offices, particularly Darul Iftah of Cotabato and Ulama League of the Philippines of Marawi, and grand mufti confirmed by NCMF Ulama headed by Aleem Anuar Limbona, New Moon was not sighted by any of Moon-Sighting Committees nationwide. Ramadan fasting will start Thursday, Aug. 12,” she said.

The NCMF secretary said the holy month should remind them of the government’s response to Muslims' welfare.

“In keeping faith on the importance of Ramadan, we shall hold in our mind the government’s significant contribution to preserve our way of life. As expressed in the Charter of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, it has been the State’s declared policy to ensure our rights and well-being with due regard to our beliefs, customs, and traditions,” she said.

Dianalan-Lucman added that Muslims should, in turn, practice Islam's teachings on brotherhood, peace, and unity in support of the Mindanao peace process.

“I foresee that President Benigno S. Aquino III can spell the difference on the peace process for his parents’ peace advocacy in Muslim Mindanao stays in the memory of the Muslim Filipinos,” she said.

As in previous Ramadan, Muslims in the Philippines remained true to form, just like the case of the highly-divided Islamic world of 1.6- billion people: Many Moros started their fast on Wednesday, while others followed the “fatwa” or opinion of the Cotabato-based Darul of Iftah (House of Opinion) for a Thursday start.

Region 9's Darul Iftah declared Wednesday their first day of fasting as it followed results in foreign countries.

The Arab world is also divided as Saudi Arabia and others started last Wednesday, but their neighbor Oman chose Thursday.

But not to worry, said Aleem Said Ahmad Basher, head of the Imam Council of the Philippines, Inc. (IMCI).

He was referring to whose Ramadan fatwa the ordinary Muslims should follow.

“You have no problem because you are only obeying the fatwa. The ulamas are the ones who are responsible and will pay for (any erroneous fatwa) when the Day of Judgment comes,” said Basher.

With the advance in astronomical methods in determining and ascertaining when the new crescent moon appears, many Muslims have advocated abandoning sighting the crescent with the naked eye, particularly that it causes disunity.

This is because when it comes to the dates for the hajj or pilgrimage to Makkah and the day of Eid'l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice), no one dares go against Saudi Arabia's Hijrah calendar.

Even Iran and Libya, which have their own calendars, obey Saudi Arabia's fatwa on when the hajj and Eid'l Adha every year are going to be performed and observed.

Many say this internal division among Muslims and their religious leaders is one of the reasons there are many Osama Bin Ladens, Ayman Al-Zawahiris, and other extremists and radicals in Islam.