Ramzan will come twice in the year 2030

SAUDI ARABIA: The holy month of Ramzan will come twice in the year 2030.

Saudi astronomer Khaled al-Zaqaq has stated in a video posted on his Twitter account that in the year 2030, Muslims will fast twice in Ramzan.

This is due to the fact that the Islamic Hijri calendar is based on lunar cycles, while the Gregorian calendar marks the Earth’s passage around the sun.

The disparity between the two calendars means that Ramzan will fall twice in one Gregorian year roughly every 30 years, the astronomer said in a video posted on his Twitter account.

The last time it happened was in 1997, and before that in 1965. It is due to happen again in 2063. In the Hijri year 1451 AH, Ramzan will begin around January 5, 2030, and in the year 1452 AH it will fall around December 26, 2030.

This will result in Muslims fasting for around 36 days total in 2030: The full month of 30 days for the year 1451 AH and around six days for the year 1452.

The Hijri lunar year lasts 354 or 355 days, meaning that it does not line up precisely with the Gregorian calendar of 365 days.

This also means that Ramzan falls in different seasons every year – going in cycles of around 32 years. Ramzan 1449 AH, due to begin in 2028, will take place in midwinter.