The majority of Muslims in the U.S. and Canada are expected to celebrate the first day of Eid al-Fitr on Tuesday

By Dina Rashed, IOL correspondent

CHIGAGO, November 24 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - The majority of Muslims in the U.S. and Canada are expected to celebrate the first day of Eid al-Fitr on Tuesday, November 25, with many other Muslims around the world.

The Islamic society of North America has previously determined that according to its method of calculation which combines scientific sighting and the ability to have a visual of the new moon, the first day of Eid al-Fitr will be Tuesday and not Wednesday, November 26. For those who followed the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)’s calculation, the month of Ramadan will be 29 days.

This year, there has been increasing consensus to follow the umbrella organization as the majority of the Muslim communities celebrated the first day Ramadan on Monday, October 27.

Fewer communities started Ramadan on Sunday, October 26, some following a country of origin for the community members, while some based their decision on the scientific birth of the moon without requiring confirmation of a visual or the ability to have a visual of the new moon itself. To them it is confirmed that Monday, November 24, will bring the month of Ramadan to a complete 30 days.

In Chicago, the Eid announcement of Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago has been less precise saying that ‘most probably’ Eid al-Fitr will fall on Tuesday, adding that “because Muslims follow a lunar calendar, final determination is dependent on moon sighting, with a slight possibility that the date will be November 26.”

In California, the Islamic Center of Southern California (ICSC), one of the state’s strongest communities has already announced that Eid prayers will be held on Tuesday. ICSC has been following the same method used by ISNA for years even before the national organization has adopted it.

The congregational prayer of the Eid brings thousands of Muslims to their nearest Islamic center in a joyful celebration of faith and accomplishment.

For the North American Muslims who reside in metropolitan cities, the spread of Islamic centers has widened their options to join certain communities for the prayer and made the commute much easier.

While other Muslim families living in more remote areas or in states with smaller Islamic communities, the travel to the nearest center may take up to a two-hour drive, many centers accommodate this by scheduling more than one prayer, or Salah.

A time of celebration to Muslim adults and children alike, students enrolled in Islamic schools have traditionally enjoyed it more as their academic calendar is marked with a week-long holiday.

This year, the Eid will coincide with celebrating Thanks Giving in the U.S. which has given many families whose kids are not enrolled in Islamic schools, as well as the working adults an opportunity to enjoy a five-day holiday break.