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Saudi Arabia, Qatar and France to celebrate Eid al-Fitr on Tuesday

While Mali is celebrating Eid al-Fitr Monday, Moroccans will be observing the crescent moon on Tuesday. While many countries rely on moonsighting to determine the end of the holy month, others count on astronomical calculations.

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While many countries are expected to observe the crescent moon Monday to determine the end of Ramadan, others are celebrating Eid al-Fitr on June 3rd, including Mali. The Malian government announced that Sunday was the last day of Ramadan in the country.

The Saudi royal court announced Monday that Tuesday, June 4, is the first of Shawwal. The United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar will also be celebrating Eid al-Fitr on Tuesday, Alarabiya reported.

In Japan, Eid al-Fitr falls on Wednesday, June 5, the Ruyat-e-Hilal Committee announced on Monday. The body said that the «1st of Shawwal 1440 is on Wednesday in Japan as the Hilal Crescent was neither sighted in Japan nor in Malaysia on 29 Ramadan».

France which announced through the French Council of the Muslim Faith that Eid al-Fitr falls on Tuesday. The smae thing goes for Spain, which will be celebrating Eid al-Fitr on June 4.

In Australia, the Australian National Imams Council announced that Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 5. Turkey, which relies on astronomical calculations to determine the end of Ramadan, said that Eid al-Fitr will be on Tuesday, June 4.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared 5th and 6th of June as work-free day to celebrate Eid al-Fitr.

Moonsighting and astronomical calculations

In Tunisia, the government declared, Wednesday, that the 4th and 5th of June as work-free days to celebrate the end of the holy month. On Monday, the Philippines announced that Muslims in the country will be celebrating Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday.

Later in the day, the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad said Monday that Muslims in Malaysia will celebrate Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday. «In following the decree by His Majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, after consent from the Malay Rulers, I hereby declare the date for Aidilfitri for all states in Malaysia is on Wednesday, June 5, 2019», he said.

Indonesia will also be celebrating Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday, as announced by the Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin. The official said that the ministry observed the crescent moon and that the 30th day of Ramadan in Jakarta is on Tuesday.

In North America, the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) explained that astronomical calculation is an acceptable method for determining the beginning of lunar months, including Ramadan. It indicates that based on this criterion.

«The Astronomical New Moon is on Monday, June 3, 2019 at 10:03 Universal Time. On that day, near Miami, Florida at sunset the elongation is 8 degrees and moon is 5 degrees above the sun. Therefore, the first day of Shawwal 1440 is Tuesday, June 4, 2019, insha’Allah», announced the Council.

Meanwhile, Brunei, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Oman and Morocco will be observing the crescent moon on Tuesday. In Algeria moonsighting is scheduled for Monday, according to a statement published by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Waqf relayed by APS.

Article modified on : 03/06/2019 20h31

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