15 May, 22:10 (IST)

Moon has not been sighted throughout the Middle East, along with Turkey, Palestine, Iran, Iraq and Syria. The region will observe Ramadan fast from Thursday morning.

15 May, 20:25 (IST)

After Namaz-e-Maghrib (evening prayers), the designated religious authorities are scheduled to issue a statement in Istanbul whether the moon has been sighted or not. Stay tuned for updates. 

Istanbul, May 15: The dates of Ramadan ul-Kareem, the holiest month of Islam would begin in some parts of the world where the moon gets sighted. Although the eastern section of the globe would search for the crescent on Wednesday, much of the western world, along with the Middle East, would keep a watch on the crescent today. Stay tuned here for the live updates of moon being sighted today in Turkey, Palestine, Iran, Iraq, Syria and other parts of West Asia. For moon sighting updates from Saudi Arabia, UAE and other parts of the Middle East, click here.

If the moon gets sighted in West Asia and Gulf countries today, the Namaz-e-Taraweeh - the special night prayers held every night on Ramadan post the Isha'a namaz would begin from today. The live streaming of the namaz in Saudi Arabia's Masjid al-haram could be viewed via live streaming of Makkah TV, provided in the embed below.

Islamic scholars believe that if the moon gets sighted in parts of the Middle East today, it is most likely that much of the eastern world, including the subcontinent nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan would view the Ramadan moon tomorrow.

The beginning of Ramadan makes it obligatory on believing Muslims to fast from dawn to dusk for the entire month.