Saudi Arabia Declares Eid al-Fitr Holiday to Begin on Sunday, March 30
Saudi Arabia announced that Eid al-Fitr will begin on Sunday, March 30, 2025, with confirmations from the UAE and Qatar. Other nations will celebrate a day later. Skepticism surrounds the moon sighting, as experts question visibility. Eid festivities are also overshadowed by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Saudi Arabia has officially declared that Eid al-Fitr, which signifies the conclusion of Ramadan fasting, will commence on Sunday, March 30, 2025. This announcement was made by the Royal Court, as shared by the official Saudi Press Agency on social media platform X. In addition, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have confirmed that they will also observe Eid starting on Sunday, while countries such as Syria, Jordan, Oman, and Iran will begin their celebrations a day later.
The commencement of Eid al-Fitr is dependent on the sighting of the crescent moon in relation to the Islamic lunar calendar. Despite the announcement, there has been skepticism among various astronomers and moon-sighting organizations. Imad Ahmed, founder of the New Crescent Society in the UK, stated, “It will be scientifically impossible to see the moon anywhere in the Middle East on Saturday. It will be too small and too thin to be seen on the horizon,” as reported by The New Arab.
Ahmed further explained a common misconception regarding Islamic months, noting that they begin with the visible waxing crescent moon, rather than the moon’s new phase. He mentioned that while a partial solar eclipse is expected on Saturday across much of North Africa, it does not affect moon visibility since the moon will not yet be observable.
Moreover, in the UK, some Muslim communities tend to follow Saudi Arabia’s announcements for convenience, but an increasing number are looking towards countries like Morocco or pursuing independent local moon-sightings. Ahmed urged British Muslims to take responsibility for ascertaining religious dates through local observation, rather than relying solely on international proclamations.
Notably, this year’s Ramadan and Eid festivities have been significantly affected by the ongoing war in Gaza, where conflicts have resulted in significant loss of life amongst the Palestinian population.
In conclusion, Saudi Arabia has officially designated March 30, 2025, as the beginning of Eid al-Fitr, with other nations varying in their dates. Notably, skepticism surrounds the moon sighting that determines the holiday’s start, as highlighted by astronomers. Additionally, communities in the UK are increasingly encouraged to derive local observations for religious observances. This year’s celebrations occur amidst ongoing turmoil in Gaza, underscoring the complex context surrounding this significant holiday.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
Post Comment