The Arab states announced to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr on Sunday, ending the month-long fasting in Ramadan in the Muslim hijri calendar.

Al Arabiya News reported 'The religious authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Yemen, Libya and the United Arab Emirates made the announcement following sighting of the new moon that will mark the beginning of the lunar month of Shawal'.

The Saudi Supreme Court made this decision last night during a meeting at its summer headquarters in Taif province to review all reports of sightings of the new moon, Arab News quoted from a statement by the Royal Court.

As such, the first day of Eid Al-Fitr is tomorrow (August 19).


“Thanks to Allah Almighty and Prayer and Peace be Upon the Prophet who instructed us to fast and breakfast upon sighting the crescent and if it was not visible, you complete your fasting for the 30th day and due to the lack of evidence of sighting the new moon this evening of Friday the 29th of Ramadan of this year 1433 H corresponding to 17/8/2012, the Supreme Court decides that Saturday corresponding to 18/8/2012 is the complementary day of Ramadan 1433 H.



"And that Sunday corresponding to 1/10/1433 H. according to Ummal Qura calendar which falls on the 19th of August 2012 is the first day of Eid Al-Fitr which falls on the first day of Shawwal 1433 H.,” said the Supreme Court.

It said the highest court of the land deemed a complementary day was necessary due to the lack of evidence of sighting of the new moon on Friday night.


If the new moon is sighted in Bangladesh on Saturday, Muslims in the country will also celebrate Eid on Sunday.

But if the moon is not sighted on Saturday, Bangladesh will celebrate the festival on Monday, continuing Ramadan fasting until Sunday.

People in Bangladesh started Ramadan fasting on Jul 21 as the moon was sighted the day before. But the Arab states started Ramadan fasting on Jul 20 as the moon was sighted on Jul 19 there.

Meanwhile, Muslims in over 30 villages of Chandpur have decided to celebrate Eid on Sunday, in line with the sighting of the moon in Saudi Arabia.

Source : The Indepentdent