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Most countries will sight the Shawwal moon on Thursday, October 11. |
CAIRO — Millions of Muslims worldwide will celebrate `Eid Al-Fitr, the feast that marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, on Saturday, October 13, according to astronomical calculations.
The Abu-Dhabi-based Islamic Crescents' Observation Project announced Friday, October 12, the last day of Ramadan according to astronomical calculations.
In Egypt, the National Research Institute of Astronomy said astronomical calculations suggest that `Eid will fall on Saturday, October 13.
`Eid Al-Fitr will also start on Saturday in Bahrain, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates, according to astronomical calculations announced by meteorologists and astronomy professors in respectable universities.
Muslim minorities in Europe will also celebrate `Eid Al-Fitr on Saturday.
"According to astronomical calculations, Friday, October 12, will be the last day of Ramadan and Saturday, October 13, will be the first day of `Eid," said the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR).
`Eid Al-Fitr will also start in North America on October 13.
"This year's Ramadan will be 29 days. Thus, the first day of `Eid Al-Fitr will be on October 13," announced the Islamic Society of North America.
`Eid Al-Fitr is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations, together with `Eid Al-Adha, or "Feast of Sacrifice."
After special prayers to mark the day, festivities and merriment start with visits to the homes of friends and relatives.
Traditionally, everyone wears new clothes for `Eid, and the children look forward to gifts and the traditional `ediya (cash).
Differences
The calculations, however, differed in some other countries.
"Based on astronomical calculations, Friday, October 12, will be the first day of Shawwal and `Eid," said the Libyan Center for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences.
`Eid Al-Fitr will also start in Saudi Arabia and Algeria on October 12, according to astronomical calculations cited by meteorologists there.
Turkey's Religious Affairs Authorities announced Friday to be the first day of `Eid, according to the country's calendar and astronomical calculations.
In Pakistan, `Eid will start on Sunday, October 14, according to astronomical calculations
"Astronomical calculations suggest that there is hardly any chance of sighting new moon of Shawwal in the evening of 12th October 2007 throughout the country," announced the Pakistani Metrological Department.
"As such, the month of Shawwal would commence in Pakistan on Sunday, October 14."
Most countries, however, will sight the Shawwal moon on Thursday night, October 11.
Moon sighting has always been a controversial issue among Muslim countries, and even scholars seem at odds over the issue.
One group says that Muslims everywhere should abide by the lunar calendar of Saudi Arabia.
A second, however, believes that the authority in charge of ascertaining the sighting of the moon in a given country announces the sighting of the new moon, then Muslims in the country should all abide by this.
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