According to the head of the International Astronomy Centre, Muhammad Shaukat, Eid ul Fitr is expected to be celebrated on April 22 (Saturday) in Saudi Arabia this year. This is because the Shawwal moon is unlikely to be sighted on April 20 (Thursday). The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has urged citizens to sight the moon on Thursday with the naked eye and inform the nearest court to register their testimony. If the moon is sighted on Thursday, Saudi Arabia will celebrate Eid ul Fitr on April 21 (Friday).
Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims, where they fast from sunrise to sunset, refraining from food and drink, as well as negative thoughts and actions. The end of Ramadan is marked by Eid ul Fitr, which is a religious holiday in Islam celebrated by Muslims all over the world. The celebrations of Eid begin with early morning prayers with Muslims, elderly and young, dressing up in traditional clothes. Families gather to share their first breakfast together after fasting for 29 or 30 days. Loved ones meet and enjoy delicious foods together with desserts dominating the table.
The International Astronomical Center (IAC) based in Abu Dhabi has stated that there is no possibility to sight the Shawwal crescent on Thursday, Ramadan 29, corresponding to April 20, and hence Eid Al-Fitr could fall on Saturday, April 22. The center’s prediction is based on astronomical information, and the exact date of the Eid will only be confirmed by the concerned authorities based on the sighting of the new moon.
Sighting the crescent on Thursday evening is very difficult as it requires a precise telescope, a professional observer, and exceptional weather conditions. The center noted that the combination of these factors rarely occurs, and therefore the crescent is not expected to be seen even using a telescope from anywhere in the Arab world. IAC stated that due to the possibility of seeing the crescent with a telescope from some parts of the Islamic world on Thursday, and due to the occurrence of conjugation before sunset, and the setting of the moon after sunset in all regions of the Islamic world, it is expected that the majority of the countries of the Islamic world would likely to announce the start of the month of Shawwal on Friday.
As for countries that require correct sighting with the naked eye only or correct local vision with a telescope, they are expected to continue observing fasting to complete 30 days. Therefore, Eid al-Fitr will be on Saturday for them. The vision remains very difficult and requires an accurate telescope, a professional observer, and exceptional weather conditions. IAC noted that the crescent is not expected to be seen even using a telescope from anywhere in the Arab world.
In conclusion, the date of Eid ul Fitr in Saudi Arabia is likely to be on April 22 (Saturday), according to the International Astronomy Centre. However, the exact date of the Eid will only be confirmed by the concerned authorities based on the sighting of the new moon. The sighting of the crescent on Thursday evening is very difficult, and the combination of precise telescope, professional observer, and exceptional weather conditions rarely occurs. Therefore, the crescent is not expected to be seen even using a telescope from anywhere in the Arab world. For countries that require correct sighting with the naked eye or correct local vision with a telescope, they are expected to continue observing fasting to complete 30 days.
