RIYADH: The Supreme Court in Saudi Arabia has called on all Muslims in the country to search for the crescent moon on Thursday (today) evening, which will correspond to the 29th day of the holy month of Ramadan.
Muslims who spot the crescent moon with their naked eyes or through binoculars are requested to report their sighting to the nearest court and register their testimony.
If the crescent moon of Shawwal, the month following Ramadan is spotted on Thursday evening, Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday. However, if there is no sighting of the crescent moon on Thursday evening, Ramadan will last for 30 days and Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Saturday.
The sighting of the crescent moon is an important religious practice in determining the end of Ramadan and the start of Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month worldwide. The announcement by the Supreme Court is a traditional practice in Saudi Arabia and is followed by many other Muslim-majority countries.
The crescent moon is the slender, curved outline of the moon that is visible just after sunset. The sighting of the moon depends on several factors, including the weather conditions and the position of the moon in relation to the sun.
In Saudi Arabia, the sighting of the crescent moon is usually made by a group of astronomers and Islamic scholars who are sent to different parts of the country to search for the moon. However, the Supreme Court’s call for all Muslims to search for the moon is a way to involve the wider community in the process.
Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations for Muslims
The end of the holy month of Ramadan and the start of Eid-ul-Fitr is a time of celebration for Muslims worldwide, with families and friends coming together to share meals and exchange gifts. The pandemic has affected the way Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated, with many countries imposing restrictions on gatherings and travel.
In Saudi Arabia, the government has urged people to follow safety protocols during Eid-ul-Fitr, including avoiding large gatherings and maintaining social distancing. Mosques will also be open for prayers, but with restrictions on capacity and duration.
