The first day of Ramadan in the Hijri calendar is likely to fall on March 1 this year, according to the Jeddah Astronomical Society.
Society President Majed Abu Zahra noted that the alignment is a rare occurrence, reflecting the intricacies of lunar and solar calendar systems.
The Hijri calendar follows the phases of the moon, resulting in a year of either 354 or 355 days.
In contrast, the Gregorian calendar, widely used internationally, is solar-based and spans 365 days, or 366 in a leap year.
Abu Zahra explained that the difference causes the Hijri year to shift roughly 10 to 12 days earlier each year when compared to the Gregorian calendar.
Over a span of about 33 years, this gradual shift brings Islamic months through every season.
Such alignments, like the anticipated coincidence of Ramadan 1, 1446, and March 1, are uncommon.
Abu Zahra described them as a testament to the precision in the movements of celestial bodies.
He noted that the event reflects the coexistence of timekeeping systems and the connection between human calendars and the earth-moon rhythms.
