Eid-ul-Fitr 2021 moon sighting: Crescent not sighted: fasting continues today
The crescent moon for the month of Shawwal 1442 was not sighted on Tuesday evening. Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Thursday, May 13 2021 which will mark the end of Ramadan 2021
Muslims across the world are gearing up to sight the crescent moon to welcome the month of Shawwal with Eid-ul-Fitr or Eid-al-Fitr. The ninth month in the Islamic Lunar Calendar is Ramadan and the tenth is Shawwal whose first day is marked as Eid-ul-Fitr across the world.
While the West culturally follows the Gregorian calendar, the Islamic calendar is lunar which means it is based on the sighting of the crescent moon. Every year, Eid-ul-Fitr occurs approximately 10-11 days earlier depending on when the crescent moon is sighted since lunar months are shorter than solar months and so it varies from country to country by about a day.
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court calls Muslims in UAE, Qatar and other Arab states to sight the crescent moon for the month of Shawwal on Tuesday evening, that is May 11, 2021, which will mark Eid-ul-Fitr and the end of Ramadan 2021.
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court calls Muslims to sight the crescent moon
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has asked Muslims to report to the authorities in their area if they sight the crescent moon for the month of Shawaal by naked eyes or through binoculars. It also called the people of the Kingdom to register their testimony after reporting to the nearest court about the moon sighting.
Jeddah Astronomical Association predicts Eid-ul-Fitr on May 13
Jeddah Astronomical Association has said that the most likely sighting date for the Shawwal moon will be on Wednesday 12 May. As per a top official, a new moon is likely to be sighted in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday which is May 12. If this is the case, Eid-ul-Fitr will follow on Thursday i.e. May 13 but a final announcement from the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia is awaited.
North America expects Eid-ul-Fitr on May 13
According to the Fiqh Council of North America, the Astronomical New Moon is on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 19:02 Universal Time. On this day, there is no place on Earth reportedly where at sunset the elongation is 8 degrees and moon is 5 degrees above the sun. Hence, Shawwal 1442 cannot start the next day which means that the first day of Shawwal or Eid-ul-Fitr 2021 is on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) says fasting in the month of Ramadan will continue on Wednesday.
The national moonsighting committee of NSCIA announced this in a tweet on Tuesday.
In a statement, Sambo Walli Junaidu, wazirin Sokoto and chairman of advisory committee on religious affairs for sultanate council of Sokoto, said there was no positive sighting of the crescent moon for the month of Shawwal.
“The Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs in conjunction with the National Moon Sighting Committee did not receive any report from various Moon Sighting Committees across the Country confirming the sighting of the New Moon of Shawwal 1442AH, on Tuesday, 11th May, 2021 which was the 29th day of Ramadan 1442AH. Therefore, Wednesday, 12, May, 2021 is the 30th day of the month of Ramadan 1442AH,” the statement reads.
“His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar CFR, mni, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has accepted the report and accordingly declared Thursday, 13th May, 2021 as the first day of Shawwal 1442AH. (Day of Eid-El-Fitr).
“His Eminence, the Sultan felicitates with the Nigerian Muslim Ummah and wishes them Allah’s guidance and blessings. The Sultan while urging the Muslim Ummah to continue to pray for peace, progress and development of the Country, he also wishes all Muslims a happy Eid-El-Fitr. May Allah (SWT) accept our religious deeds, amin.”
