Muslims scan the skies for new moon

When will Eid-ul-Fitr be? That is the question on every Muslim's lips as the holy month of Ramadaan draws to a close. Photo: WILLEM LAW

When will Eid-ul-Fitr be? That is the question on every Muslim's lips as the holy month of Ramadaan draws to a close. Photo: WILLEM LAW

Published Jul 16, 2015

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Durban - When will Eid-ul-Fitr be? That is the question on every Muslim’s lips as the holy month of Ramadaan draws to a close.

Islamic scholars are remaining patient and continue to watch for the new moon. Depending on the sighting, Eid could be on Friday or Saturday.

Moulana Junaid Kharsany of Overport’s Al-Falaah School’s Islamic studies department, said the holy month of Ramadaan, like any other lunar month, had 29 or 30 days. Should the new moon be sighted on the 29th day then the next month in the Islamic calendar, Shawaal, would automatically begin.

Kharsany said, should the new moon not be sighted on Thursday, then Ramadaan would continue and Eid would be on Saturday. If sighted on Thursday then Eid would be on Friday.

Kharsany said the decision was reached when the new moon was sighted by upright practising members of the community who would in turn report to Muslim offices present throughout the country.

“Statements of observers will be forwarded to the Uluma Council of South Africa who will pass a unanimous judgement on declaration of Eid. The announcement is forwarded to communities by social network and mosques,” Kharsany said.

According to the website Crescentwatch.org, the tradition was that an Islamic lunar month began and ended on the confirmed, verifiable naked-eye sighting of the new moon. The website encouraged everyone to scan the sky on Thursday evening in anticipation of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The website said qualified Muslim astronomers and reliable visibility forecasts indicated that Thursday, the only parts of the world that would have any likelihood of a naked-eye (unaided) sighting of the new moon were in South America and the South Pacific.

Raja Zahid Nawaz, an observatory expert and member of the Royat-e-Hillal board in Pakistan, said based on astronomical calculations Saudi Arabians were likely to celebrate Eid on Friday. This is based on their own umul qura calendar. Nawaz said Eid in South Africa would likely be on Saturday.

“I have verified this from the South African Astronomical Society which categorically states that first visibility will be on Friday. Why argue? Muslims should continue to benefit from the blessings of Ramadaan,” Nawaz said.

Daily News

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