The International Astronomy Center Expects Eid 1443 Hijri To Fall On May 2, How About In Indonesia?

Illustration of Eid prayer in Indonesia. (Wikimedia Commons/Nurudin Jauhari)

JAKARTA - The International Astronomy Center (IAC) estimates that the first day of Eid will fall on Monday, May 2, 2022 in most Islamic countries in the world.

The center, located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (EUA), said the crescent moon marking the beginning of the month of Shawwal will be seen on Saturday 30 April, coinciding with the 29th of Ramadan, the UAE news agency WAM said.

Meanwhile, the Emirates Astronomical Society has also predicted that Eid al-Fitr and the first of Shawwal will fall on May 2.

Director of the International Astronomical Center Mohammad Shawkat Odeh said, in countries that start Ramadan on Sunday, April 3, the new moon of Shawwal will be seen on Sunday, May 1.

These countries include Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Oman, Jordan, Morocco and Ghana.

He said seeing the crescent moon on Saturday, April 30 was impossible because the Moon would set before the Sun.

At that stage, he said, countries (starting Ramadan April 2) will complete 30 days of Ramadan, meaning Eid will start on May 2.

In countries that will witness the crescent on May 1, including Australia and neighboring territories, sighting the Moon on that day will not be possible. It will be visible with telescopes in Central and West Asia, much of Europe and southern Africa, he said.

It is known that some Indonesians started Ramadan 1443 Hijri this time on April 2 and some on April 3.

As for the determination of 1 Shawwal 1443 or Eid al-Fitr, the Central Leader of Muhammadiyah in the edict number 01/MLM/1.0/E/2022 stated that 1 Shawwal will fall on May 2, 2022, as reported by Antara.

The new government will hold an isbat meeting to determine the 1st Shawwal which will be held on Sunday, May 1, 2022.