Eid ul-Fitr 2018: Crescent of the Shawwal moon sighted in Malaysia, UAE and Australia

While Indian Subcontinent waits for the sighting of the auspicious Crescent of the Shawwal, countries such as Malaysia, Australia and the UAE have reportedly spotted the moon.

With the month of Ramzan coming to end, the question on everyone’s mind is ‘when is Eid?’ Many Muslims are often asked this question in the month of Ramzan as their friends wait for Eid delicacies. This year, their answer has been: “Either on June 15 or 16”. 

While for many, this might be confusing as to not knowing the exact date of the most important festival of the year till the very end, there’s a religious logic to it. The suspense over the date of Eid ul-Fitr 2018 is because Muslims celebrate the festival after the new moon appears either after 29 days of fasting or 30 days.

After a month of fasting and sacrifice, Muslims will celebrate Eid ul-Fitr after sighting of the crescent moon which will officially end the month of Ramzan. In Ramzan, the 9th month of Islamic calendar, Muslims observe fast and abstain from food and water from dawn to dusk. They are also expected to abstain from worldly desires and offer special prayers.

12 months of Islamic calendar carry either 29 or 30 days. Ramzan also has either 29 or 30 days and Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwāl, the 10th month of Islamic calendar. However, the number of days in the month is only established after sighting of the moon. People from across the world try to see the moon after sunset (when they break the fast) on 29th Ramzan. Some are stuck to radio, TV news and internet for any information on the sighting of the moon.

The suspense over Eid date remains on till late night until it is confirmed that moon has been sighted. If the moon is sighted in any part of the Indian subcontinent, all Muslims in the region celebrate Eid ul-Fitr with fervour the next day. There are, however, exceptions, as some sects have more strict rules to establish that the moon has been sighted and rely on individual testimonies than scientific methods.

At many places, local mosques make announcements after confirmation from various sources in other cities.