Different countries deal differently with starting the Islamic months (lunar). For example Turkey always follows the scientific method (as told to me by a Turkish friend).
Where others depend on a visible moon sighting, for which the method is that they start looking for the moon after the 28th day (as the month can be 29 days or 30 days). If they do not see the moon due to clouds or haze, the month is assumed 30 days and Ramadan 1 would be after that.
Though, scholars have differed regarding the validity of either of the above methods in this day and age, both have their practical short falls.
Although the practically it would seem like following the scientific method would be fool proof, but in practice it has not been. For example in Tunisia (as told to me by a Tunisian friend), where they started following the scientific method and within a few years the calendar became obviously off by a few days.
point of note:
Different countries deal differently with starting the Islamic months (lunar). For example Turkey always follows the scientific method (as told to me by a Turkish friend).
Where others depend on a visible moon sighting, for which the method is that they start looking for the moon after the 28th day (as the month can be 29 days or 30 days). If they do not see the moon due to clouds or haze, the month is assumed 30 days and Ramadan 1 would be after that.
Though, scholars have differed regarding the validity of either of the above methods in this day and age, both have their practical short falls.
Although the practically it would seem like following the scientific method would be fool proof, but in practice it has not been. For example in Tunisia (as told to me by a Tunisian friend), where they started following the scientific method and within a few years the calendar became obviously off by a few days.