“Congratulations to the Islamic Ummah on the arrival of the month of Ramadan, the blessed month of mercy. May God bring it back to us and all peoples with goodness, tranquility and abundance,” he wrote in a tweet in Arabic.
Iranians, along with people in a number of other countries like Oman and Iraq, will start observing Ramadan fasting on Sunday.
The office of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Friday evening declared Sunday as the first day of the holy month.
According to reports, observation teams across the country, including those of the Leader’s office, could not sight the new crescent moon on Friday night and declared Sunday as the first day of Ramadan.
In some other countries, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, Saturday has been declared as the first day of Ramadan.
The beginning of the fasting month of Ramadan is determined by both lunar calculations and physical sightings of a new moon.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, charity and community.