According to Islamic tradition, the beginning of lunar months, including Shawwal, which marks Eid Al-Fitr, is determined by the sighting of the new crescent moon with the naked eye, Dar Al-Ifta said in a statement.
Dar Al-Ifta said it follows a combined approach that incorporates both religious texts and modern astronomical calculations.
“Astronomical calculations do not dictate the start of a lunar month; rather, they confirm whether moon sighting is possible or not, making them a standard to calibrate the legitimate sighting,” it said.
The institution cited the instructions of Prophet Muhammad “PBUH” on determining the start and end of Ramadan: “Fast when you see it (the moon) and break your fast when you see it. If it is obscured, complete thirty days of the month" (Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Based on this method, Dar Al-Ifta determined that the crescent moon was not visible on Saturday, 29 March 2025. As a result, Ramadan will be completed as a 30-day month, and Eid al-Fitr will begin on Monday, 31 March.
The institution emphasized that there is no contradiction between Islamic teachings and modern science, saying the two complement each other to ensure accurate religious observances.
Last week, Egypt’s National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) stated that, based on astronomical calculations, Eid would fall on Sunday in Egypt and other Arab countries.
Several countries, including Syria, Oman, Iraq, Algeria, and Jordan, have confirmed that Eid will begin on Monday, while others, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Sudan, and the UAE, have declared that Eid will start on Sunday.
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