In anticipation of Eid ul Fitr, Saudi Arabia awaited the sighting of the Shawwal moon, which remained elusive on Tuesday, causing a delay in the festive celebrations. Saudi authorities had urged citizens to diligently scan the evening sky on April 8 for any sign of the moon, emphasizing the significance of promptly reporting any sighting to the relevant authorities, whether observed with the naked eye or aided by binoculars, in accordance with Sharia law.
This year, Ramadan commenced on March 11, ushering in a period of fasting from sunrise to sunset for Muslims around the globe. Eid ul Fitr, a joyous occasion in the Islamic calendar, typically involves feasts, communal prayers, and the exchange of gifts, extending over three days in the month of Shawwal.
Meanwhile, in Pakistan, the Met Office anticipated Eid ul Fitr to begin on April 10, with hopes of spotting the Shawwal moon on April 9. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the crescent was expected to emerge on April 8 at 11:21 PM, aging between 19 to 20 hours by the following day’s Maghrib prayer. A window of over 50 minutes around sunset was deemed optimal for sighting the crescent.
