Saudi Arabia Sets Eid Al-Fitr to Fall on Wednesday
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar have set Eid al-Fitr to fall on Wednesday, April 10. These countries did not see the new moon on Monday.
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Several Saudi Arabian astronomy experts and ulamas attempted to confirm the sighting of the crescent moon using a telescope, which will determine the certainty of the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan in the city of Hautat Sudair, Saudi Arabia on March 10, 2024.
RIYADH, MONDAY — The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced Eid al-Fitr will fall on Wednesday (10/4/2024). This decision is based on observations of the hilal or young crescent moon which will not be visible until Monday (8/4/2024).
The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia announced the decision as quoted by Saudi Arabian media, Arab News. Other Middle Eastern countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Egypt, also announced Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday.
With that decision, Tuesday will be the last day of the holy month of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid al-Fitr will begin on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Eid al-Fitr prayer will be held throughout the Kingdom on that day, shortly after sunrise.
The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdullatif al-Asheikh, recently issued instructions for Muslims to perform Eid al-Fitr prayer 15 minutes after sunrise, according to the Umm al-Qura calendar.
In his circular, Asheikh said that the Eid al-Fitr prayer must be performed in designated open spaces and at all mosques except those located near the areas designated for the prayer.
Saudi Arabian residents looked up to the sky to observe the first crescent moon signaling the start of the holy month of Ramadan, in the city of Taif located in southwestern Saudi Arabia on April 1, 2022.
Majed Abdullah al-Hedayan, a lawyer in Riyadh, stated that the appearance of the moon signifies the end of Ramadan and the start of Idul Fitri celebrations for a week. He added that in Riyadh, Idul Fitri celebrations are filled with family gatherings, gift exchanges, and sharing of candies.
"People visit friends and family to exchange greetings and participate in joyous moments. We celebrate it with our extended family. In addition, some families also book resorts to celebrate," said Hedayan.
Also read: Welcoming Eid Al-Fitr, from Hena in Egypt to Ketupat in Malaysia
Previously, last weekend on Saturday, the Saudi Arabian government called on all residents to observe the appearance of the new moon on the 29th day of Ramadan falling on Monday. The call required anyone who managed to see the young crescent moon or the hilal with the naked eye or with the help of a telescope on Monday (8/4/2024) in the afternoon until evening to immediately report to the nearest court.
Residents inspect a telescope to search for the new crescent moon that marks the beginning of Eid al-Fitr, at the end of the holy month of Ramadan, near the Dome of the Rock in the Old City of Jerusalem on April 20, 2023.
"If you cannot go to the court, you can immediately report to the nearest government official who will help convey the information to the court," said the appeal conveyed through the Saudi Arabian news agency, SPA, which was also quoted by media in the country.
Also read: Saudi Arabia Issues Call for Seeing the New Moon to Establish Eid Al-Fitr
Observing the young crescent moon or hilal is one of the ways to determine the end of the month of Ramadan and to mark the beginning of the month of Shawwal or the Eid al-Fitr holiday. Saudi Arabia has set the start of Ramadan on March 11, 2024.
Based on the calculation, on Monday this week, the kingdom's territory entered the 29th day of Ramadan. Since no crescent moon was visible on that day, the Saudi Arabian religious authority decided to complete the Ramadan fast to 30 days.
The daily Arab News, Saturday (6/4/2024), said that Saudi Arabia and most Arab countries started the month of Ramadan on March 11. If the crescent moon is not visible on Monday, the beginning of the month of Shawwal in these countries will fall on Wednesday (10/4/2024).
Also read: Eid al-Fitr 2024 Most likely the same
A group of astronomers and Saudi Arabian scholars attempted to verify the sighting of the crescent moon that would determine the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan in the city of Hautat Sudair on Sunday (10/3/2024).
The Al Arabiya website states that the Saudi Arabian government has announced a holiday for civil and private sector employees to commemorate Eid al-Fitr. All workers in the country will get a holiday for five days starting from April 9.
UAE, Qatar and Egypt
Like Saudi Arabia, two neighboring Gulf Arab countries, namely the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, also announced that Eid al-Fitr would fall on Wednesday. As reported by UAE media, The National, the country's new moon observation committee—a committee consisting of astronomers, court officials and advisers to the UAE's Islamic authorities—stated did not see the new moon on Monday afternoon local time.
Qatar's news agency, QNA, reported that their country's Hilal Observation Committee also did not see the new moon. As in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, the Ramadan fast has been extended to 30 days so that Tuesday is the last day of Ramadan fasting and Eid al-Fitr falls on Wednesday.
As in Saudi Arabia, the UAE has also issued a call to its citizens to observe the new moon. The UAE Moon Observation Committee invites all Muslims in the UAE to see the new moon on Monday afternoon or evening.
Also read: Hunting Takjil (Without ”War”) in Dubai
In Egypt, as reported by Ahram Online, the Dar Al-Ifta religious institution also announced that Eid al-Fitr falls on Wednesday. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa last week announced that government employees would have a six-day holiday, from Tuesday (9/4/2024) to Sunday, to celebrate Eid al-Fitr.
Shia Muslims observe the crescent moon to determine the beginning of the month of Shawwal which marks the end of the month-long Ramadan fast and the beginning of the Eid al-Fitr celebration in Najaf, Iraq on April 20, 2023.
Regarding the Idul Fitri holiday, UEA also provides four days off for employees starting from April 8, 2024. All employees must return to work on April 14, 2024.
In Indonesia, the government through the Ministry of Religious Affairs will hold an isbat (confirmation) hearing to determine the date of Eid al-Fitr on Tuesday (9/4/2024). The Ministry of Religious Affairs in Indonesia has set the start of Ramadan on March 12, 2024. Meanwhile, Muhammadiyah, using the hisab hakiki wujudul hilal method, has determined that Eid al-Fitr falls on Wednesday (10/4/2024).
Eid al-Fitr marker cannon
In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the local police have announced seven locations where cannons will be fired to mark the end of Ramadan fasting and the beginning of Eid al-Fitr. The firing of these cannons marks the end of Ramadan and the start of Eid al-Fitr celebrations.
As quoted The National, Eid al-Fitr cannons are in several locations in Dubai, namely at the Zabeel Grand Mosque, at the prayer place in Al-Barsha, Nad al-Sheba, Nad al-Hamar, Al-Baraha, Umm Suqeim, and Hatta.
Also read: The Fun of Mass Breaking the Fast at Dubai Market
The cannon firing, which can be heard up to a distance of 10 kilometers, has been a tradition to end the fasting month in the UAE since the 1960s. This moment serves as a reminder of the importance of community and how traditions still endure in modern-day Dubai.
Cannon fire is launched to mark the end of the fast on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan near the Burj Khalifa in downtown Dubai on March 12, 2024.
According to the protocol, four officers from the Dubai Police must be present during every shooting. Two officers handle the cannon, one provides the bullets, and another officer loads the bullets. Meanwhile, two officers stand behind them to guard the cannon and give the order to shoot.
