“The Astronomical New Moon is on August 29, 2011 (Monday) at 3:04 Universal Time (6:04 am Makkah time),” the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) said in a statement.
“On Monday, August 29, sunset at Makkah is 6:40 p.m. local time, while moonset is at 6:44 pm local time.
“Therefore, first day of Shawwal, i.e., `Eid Al-Fitr is Tuesday, August 30, insha’Allah.”
The European Council of Fatwa and Research has also announced that `Eid Al-Fitr will be on Tuesday, August 30.
`Eid Al-Fitr is one the two main Islamic religious festivals along with `Eid Al-Adha.
During `Eid days, families and friends exchange visits to express well wishes and children, wearing new clothes bought especially for `Eid, enjoy going out in parks and open fields.
Clarification
FCNA has dismissed doubts about the date of `Eid Al-Fitr.
“The Fiqh Council of North America recognizes astronomical calculation as an acceptable Shari`ah method for determining the beginning of Lunar months including the months of Ramadan and Shawwal,” it said.
“FCNA uses Makkah al-Mukarrama as a conventional point and takes the position that the conjunction must take place before sunset in Makkah and moon must set after sunset in Makkah.”
The council denied that the new moon of Shawwal will not be visible on Monday, August 29, anywhere in the world.
“In United States the birth of Astronomical new moon is on August 28, 2011 (Sunday) at 11:04 p.m. (New York), at 8:04 p.m. (California) and 5:04 p.m. (Hawaii),” it said.
“On Monday, August 29, the Crescent will set 13 minutes after sunset in San Diego, California and 28 minutes after sunset in Honolulu, Hawaii.
“On Monday, August 29 the Crescent should be visible in Hawaii by binoculars and telescope and in South America by naked eye,” FCNA said.
“The Shawwal Crescent of Monday, August 29 is acceptable according to Shari’ah for those who recognize the Global sighting as it is also acceptable according to the criteria adopted by the Fiqh Council of North America.”
Moon sighting have always been a controversial issue among Muslim countries, and even scholars seem at odds over the issue.
While one group of scholars sees that Muslims in other regions and countries are to follow the same moon sighting as long as these countries share one part of the night, another states that Muslims everywhere should abide by the lunar calendar of Saudi Arabia.
A third, however, disputes both views, arguing that the authority in charge of ascertaining the sighting of the moon in a given country announces the sighting of the new moon, then Muslims in the country should all abide by this.
This usually causes confusion among Muslims, particularly in the West, on observing the dawn-to-dusk fasting and celebrating the `Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of fasting.
source: ABNA
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