Eid, or Eid al-Fitr, is among the most important religious festivals Muslims celebrate. The celebration marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast from dawn until dusk.
The sighting of the new moon determines the exact date of Eid, and it can vary from year to year.
In Islam, the lunar calendar determines the dates of religious events, including Ramadan and Eid.
Unlike the Gregorian calendar used in the Western world, which is based on the solar cycle, the Islamic calendar follows the moon's phases.
The Islamic calendar has 12 months, each lasting for 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the new moon.
This means the Islamic year is shorter than the Gregorian year, with approximately 11 days difference.
The sighting of the new moon is crucial in determining the date of Eid.
In Islamic tradition, Eid al-Fitr begins on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar.
However, the exact date of the beginning of Shawwal depends on the sighting of the new moon. Once the new moon is sighted, the month of Ramadan ends, and the celebration of Eid begins.
In most countries, the sighting of the new moon is conducted by a group of people who are knowledgeable about the lunar cycle and the principles of Islamic jurisprudence.
These people are known as moon-sighting committees and are responsible for determining the beginning of Ramadan and Eid.
The committee usually comprises scholars, astronomers, and experts who use telescopes and other instruments to observe the sky.
In some countries, the government announces the date of Eid based on the sighting of the new moon by the moon-sighting committee.
In other countries, the date of Eid is determined by the declaration of neighbouring countries. This can sometimes lead to variations in the dates of Eid celebrations between different countries.
Final Thoughts
The date of Eid is determined by the sighting of the new moon, which moon-sighting committees conduct. The exact date of Eid can vary from year to year, depending on the lunar cycle.
This process adds to the Islamic calendar's beauty and richness and highlights the moon's importance in Islamic culture.
