Eid Al-Fitr 2022: Saudi Arabia Urges Its Citizens To See The Crescent Moon On Saturday Night

Aerial photo illustration of the Grand Mosque of Makkah. (Wikimedia Commons/saudipics)

JAKARTA - The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has asked people living in the kingdom to see the crescent of Shawwal on Saturday night, the 29th night of Ramadan, regarding the determination of 1 Shawwal 1443 Hijri.

Those who see the moon with the naked eye or use binoculars are encouraged to report it to the nearest court and register their testimony.

If the moon is observed over the kingdom on Saturday, Eid al-Fitr 1 Shawwal 1443 Hijri will fall the next day. If it cannot be observed, Eid will fall on Monday, as reported by The National News on April 29

Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif Al Sheikh, has asked authorities to prepare all mosques for Eid prayers. He said the congregation would come 15 minutes after sunrise.

This year, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that pilgrims wishing to perform Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Grand Mosque in Mecca or the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, do not require a permit, nor will the number be limited as in the previous two years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Separately, previously the International Astronomical Center (IAC) predicted the first day of Eid to 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, April 30, coinciding with the 29th of Ramadan, the UAE news agency WAM said.

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 on April 2) will complete 30 days of Ramadan, meaning Eid will start on May 2.

While in countries that will witness the crescent on May 1, including Australia and neighboring regions, 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.