Like the beginning of the holy month, the date of Eid is dictated by the sighting of the moon, which means that it can not be predicted with absolute accuracy. This means that it could technically fall either this Sunday or Monday – here is the observation of the Moon and everything you need to know about the festival.
Is Eid al-Fitr Sunday or Monday?
Traditionally, Ramadan begins the day after the sighting of the crescent, which generally appears one night after the new moon, which means that the start date cannot be predicted accurately. Eid al-Fitr works in exactly the same way, with the view of the new crescent marking the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the month of Shawwal, the tenth of the Islamic calendar Hijri. The latest estimates for the sighting of the Moon predict that Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated on Monday, May 2nd. The viewing of the Eid Moon for 2022 is expected to take place on Sunday, May 1 (Photo: Getty Images) This is the prediction that follows the Saudi Umm al-Qura Calendar and would mean that this Ramadan lasts 30 days – sometimes it can last up to 29. As a bonus for those celebrating Eid in the UK, this is the date of the spring banking holiday, which means that many people will one day take time off work for the holidays. The UK government agency HM Nautical Almanac has reportedly estimated that the new moon will arrive at 21:28 on Saturday 30 April, but says no views will be visible worldwide until Sunday 1 May. There is some debate as to whether the idea of a lunar eclipse should refer to you who naturally watch the moon in your area, something that could be hindered by factors such as the weather, or whether you should postpone viewing in Saudi Arabia or in other areas.
More about Ramadan
What is Eid al-Fitr?
Eid al-Fitr’s name comes from an Arabic term that translates to “fasting” and, although it is not usually an official holiday in the UK (unless, as it is this year), it is for many Muslim countries. The festivities will begin with early morning prayers, usually in a mosque. Eid has its own special prayer, which is designed to be performed in a church. It is traditional for Muslims to gather in a park to celebrate their fast, with large-scale events and festive food (especially sweet treats), prayers and benches. After Eid, some Muslims decide to fast for the next six days. This stems from the Islamic belief that a good deed in Islam is rewarded 10 times, so fasting for 30 days during Ramadan and six days during Shawwal creates a good will for a year. The second Eid festival in the Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adha, falls later in the year. Its name literally translates as “Feast of Sacrifice” and is considered the holiest of the two Eids. This honors the story of the willingness of the Prophet Abraham – known in the Christian Old Testament as Abraham – to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command.
