Under the patronage of His Excellency Prof. Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, President of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences (AUASS), and General Director of the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology (SAASST), SAASST held the "Sharjah Forum for Determining the Beginnings of Ramadan and Shawwal 1442 AH" on Sunday, April 11th, 2021. The Forum was held virtually via the communication platform Zoom to ensure compliance with the issued safety and prevention measures against COVID-19.

SAASST organized this Forum following the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University of Sharjah. His Highness established SAASST as a national development project and scientific research headquarters that aims to enrich and educate society in all areas of space sciences and become a global leader in space sciences research to establish the UAE as a scientific hub at regional and global levels.

During his opening speech, His Excellency the University Chancellor the attending scholars, specialists, and researchers in Sharia studies and Astronomy. He also extended his congratulations on the occasion of the Holy Month of Ramadan to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, as well as Their Highnesses the Members sof the UAE's Supreme Council.

His Excellency the Chancellor emphasized that SAASST adopted the "Sharjah Forum for Determining the Beginnings of Ramadan and Shawwal 1442 AH" due to its significance in combining the Sharia Sciences and Astronomy in accurately calculating the Islamic Hijri calendar.

He added that the Forum aims to introduce the methods and means of observing the crescent of Ramadan, the conditions for seeing the crescent from the religious and scientific perspectives, and the visual observation compared to the astronomical calculation and modern standards. The Forum also covers topics such as the importance of astronomical calculation in observing Ramadan and Shawwal's crescents, the different criteria used to set the beginning of the Islamic months, and the need to have a standard Islamic calendar for the Muslim world. This in addition to various educational topics and dialogue sessions presented by several experts and specialists in this field in the United Arab Emirates.

His Excellency Prof. Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy stated that according to the accurate astronomical calculations, the Holy Month of Ramadan is expected to beging on Tuesday April 13th , 2021 (1442 AH). Ramadan, he added, will last 30 days and the month of Shawwal begins on Thursday May 13th , 2021 (1442 AH).

The Forum program also included presentations of some scientific and research papers on determining the beginnings of the Hijri months and the accurate astronomical and Sharia calculations.

Prof. Mashhoor Ahmad Al-Wardat, SAASST Deputy General Director for Academic and Sharjah Astronomical Observatory Affairs, presented an overview of the criteria adopted by countries and Islamic entities to determine the beginnings of the lunar months. He also shared predictions for the year 2021 based on them, as well as the reasons for the difference in the observations of the crescent.

Mr. Mohammed Fadil Talafha, Researcher and Observer at SAASST, gave a lecture on observing the crescent through modern standards with a comparison between calculation and observation.

In his discussion session, Prof. Ilias Mohammed Farnini, SAASST Deputy General Director for Research Laboratories and Scientific Projects, discussed the most important reasons for differences in the crescent observations and how to unify standards in calculating the beginnings of the months for the Hijri calendar.

The Forum featured notable speakers and figures from the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department, Department Of Islamic Affairs in Sharjah, and Al Qasimia University.