Sunday, the 24th of May will be the first day of Shawwal 1441 H, marking the beginning of Eid Al Fitr, the UAE Moon-sighting Committee has announced.
The announcement was made after committee held a virtual meeting under the chairmanship of the Justice Minister along with a number of senior officials, after Maghrib prayer on Friday.
The holiday will begin on May 23 or 24, depending on the sighting of the new moon, and the dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan will come to an end. Muslims in Gulf countries have been observing fast since April 24, after the Ramadan moon was sighted on April 23. Friday is the 29th day of Ramadan in the region.
Eid-ul-Fitr in Saudi Arabia: Scientific calculation
As per the calculation, the sunset will take place at 6:39 p.m. whereas Moon will set 13 minutes before Sun at 6:26 p.m. on Friday.
On Saturday, Moon can be sighted as it will set 43 minutes after Sun at 7:23 p.m. at 293 degrees.
Ramadan Alvida Jumma 2020: Date, significance and how to offer Alvida namaz at home
The aim of the celebration is to promote peace and bring yourself back to the normal course of life after the long month of self-restraint and religious devotion of Ramadan.
Saudi Gazette reported that astronomers at the observatory of Majmaah University near Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on Thursday confirmed that the crescent moon of Shawwal is unlikely to be sighted on Friday, Ramadan 29.
“According to the scientific calculations that were published on the astronomical observatory site that sun will set at 6.39 pm at 293 degrees, and the moon will set at 6.26 pm Friday, Ramadan 29, and this means the moon will set 13 minutes before the sunset,” observatory sources said in the report.
Saudi Arabia Supreme Court has asked Muslims throughout the country to report the sighting of the crescent moon.
The court said, “Whoever sights the moon with naked eyes or through binoculars, report to the nearest court and register testimony, or report to an authority of a region’s centre in the area.”
(Prayer to be performed at home)
Sunday, the 24th of May will be the first day of Shawwal 1441 H, marking the beginning of Eid Al Fitr, the UAE Moon-sighting Committee has announced.
The announcement was made after committee held a virtual meeting under the chairmanship of the Justice Minister along with a number of senior officials, after Maghrib prayer on Friday.
In Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore, Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on 24th May as the moon is not sighted in these countries.
In Xinyang, China moon was not spotted today. Eid 2020 will be celebrated on May 24 (Sunday). Eid comes after Ramadan, a month of fasting and prayers.
Crescent moon was not sighted in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on May 22 (Friday), the moon is expected to sighted to be on May 23 (Saturday. )Eid 2020 is expected to be on May 24 (Sunday).
The higher judiciary council of Saudi Arabia has announced that no moon has been sighted today. Thus 30 days of fasting will be completed. Eid-Ul-Fitr 2020 will be celebrated on May 24.
Moon sighting committees in all European nations with significant Muslim populations will convene after the evening prayers today to ascertain whether the new moon was sighted. Personnel of such committees, along with local Muslims, will attempt to sight the moon from late afternoon till dusk. Stay tuned here for the live news updates on Eid 2020 moon sighting in UK, Turkey, Germany, France, Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and other countries of Europe.
The Shawwal crescent was not seen in Sudair of Saudi Arabia. Reports from other parts of the Kingdom is awaited. Stay tuned here for the fastest updates.
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Friday May 22 - moon not visible
Saturday May 23 - moon visible if there are excellent viewing conditions
Sunday May 24 - moon easily visible
Rabat, Morocco
Friday May 22 - moon not visible
Saturday May 23 - moon visible if there are excellent viewing conditions
Sunday May 24 - moon easily visible
London
Friday May 22 - moon not visible
Saturday May 23 - Will require optical aid to find crescent. Sunset at 8.58pm, moonset at 9.52pm
Sunday May 24 - moon easily visible. Sunset 8.59pm, moonset at 10.57pm
Birmingham
Friday May 22 - moon not visible
Saturday May 23 - Will require optical aid to find crescent. Sunset at 9.10pm, moonset at 10.04pm
Sunday May 24 - moon easily visible. Sunset 9.11pm, moonset 11.10pm
Leicester
Friday May 22 - moon not visible
Saturday May 23 - Will require optical aid to find crescent. Sunset at 9.07pm, moonset at 10.01pm
Sunday May 24 - moon easily visible. Sunset 9.09pm, moonset at 11.08pm
The announcement in Saudi Arabia on the sighting of Shawwal moon is expected in the next few minutes. The final set of preparations are underway. The decision to be taken by Saudi Arabia will influence the moon sighting bodies in all parts of Europe as well. If the moon remains unseen in the Middle East, it is unlikely to be spotted in the West as well.
Shawal moon crescent has been sighted on Friday in Ladakh/Kargil. Eid-ul-Fitr to be celebrated on May 23, 2020.
The decision by the authorities will likely influence other countries in the Middle East including Egypt, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan, Oman, Libya, Iran, Iraq, and others.
The announcement on Shawwal moon is expected in the next few minutes. The prayers are scheduled to begin after sunset and the decision will be taken by the authorities.
The moon is not sighted in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore. Hence, Eid or Eid-al-Fitr will be celebrated on May 24.
The announcement will be made shortly whether the crescent moon is sighted come or not. Over 1.9 Billion Muslims in the world are waiting for KSA’s decision on the dates of Eid-ul-Fitr as Saudi is the epicentre of Islam and custodian of holiest sites.
Meanwhile, mosques will remain closed for prayers on Eid-ul-Fitr in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in view to call on the population to adhere to safety guidelines to avoid the spread of the novel coronavirus. Eid, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, may fall on Saturday or Sunday in the Gulf region.
As per the Saudi Supreme Court orders, the moon sighting committee personnel and locals have begun attempting the sighting of the crescent, which will mark the end of Ramadan and the start of next Islamic month Shawwal.
The crescent moon is not sighted in Kerala on Friday i.e. May 22, 2020. Hence, Eid or Eid-ul-Fitr would be celebrated on Sunday, May 24, 2020.