JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court has called on Muslims in the Kingdom to look for the new moon of Shawwal on the evening of Monday, which is the 29th day of Ramadan (Aug. 29) and report the matter to the nearest court if any one sights the new moon either by the naked eye or with help of lenses.
The court directed that the lookers for moon join the committee for the purpose in each region.
The end of fasting and the day of Eid Al-Fitr are decided by the sighting of the Shawwal moon.
But astronomers, who differed on the start of the holy month of Ramadan based on astronomical calculations, are at it again. They are now debating whether Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month, will fall on Tuesday or Wednesday. The controversy over the start of Ramadan is also driving the debate.
The Saudi Astronomical Society expects Ramadan to be 30 days this year and, if that is the case, it will end on Tuesday, Aug. 30, with the Eid falling on Wednesday, Aug. 31.
The society said the moon would not be sighted on the night of Monday, Ramadan 29 (Aug. 29) thus Eid would not be on Tuesday.
Chairman of the society Majed Abu Zahra said the moon, on Monday, Aug. 29, will set before sunset so no one would be able to sight the crescent. He explained that on that day, the moon would eclipse in all parts of the Kingdom before sunset by at least three to six minutes thus making it impossible to sight the crescent.
He said on the night of Tuesday, Aug. 30, the moon would be clearly seen without the help of telescopes thus indicating that the Eid would be next day, Wednesday Aug. 31.
Abu Zahra said there were two options before the Saudi authorities:
l To make Tuesday (Aug. 30) the first day of Eid with people fasting for 29 days according to astronomical calculations.
l To make Wednesday (Aug. 31) the first day of Eid as the moon would be seen by the naked eye on the night of Tuesday.
The court directed that the lookers for moon join the committee for the purpose in each region.
The end of fasting and the day of Eid Al-Fitr are decided by the sighting of the Shawwal moon.
But astronomers, who differed on the start of the holy month of Ramadan based on astronomical calculations, are at it again. They are now debating whether Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month, will fall on Tuesday or Wednesday. The controversy over the start of Ramadan is also driving the debate.
The Saudi Astronomical Society expects Ramadan to be 30 days this year and, if that is the case, it will end on Tuesday, Aug. 30, with the Eid falling on Wednesday, Aug. 31.
The society said the moon would not be sighted on the night of Monday, Ramadan 29 (Aug. 29) thus Eid would not be on Tuesday.
Chairman of the society Majed Abu Zahra said the moon, on Monday, Aug. 29, will set before sunset so no one would be able to sight the crescent. He explained that on that day, the moon would eclipse in all parts of the Kingdom before sunset by at least three to six minutes thus making it impossible to sight the crescent.
He said on the night of Tuesday, Aug. 30, the moon would be clearly seen without the help of telescopes thus indicating that the Eid would be next day, Wednesday Aug. 31.
Abu Zahra said there were two options before the Saudi authorities:
l To make Tuesday (Aug. 30) the first day of Eid with people fasting for 29 days according to astronomical calculations.
l To make Wednesday (Aug. 31) the first day of Eid as the moon would be seen by the naked eye on the night of Tuesday.
by MD HUMAIDAN, Arab News
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