Srinagar, 20 April 2023,(KAT) : The National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) in Egypt said on Monday that based on its calculations that Eid Al-Fitr will be on Friday, April 21.
While Abu Dhabi based International Astronomical Center’s (IAC) stated that there is no possibility to sight the Shawwal crescent on Thursday, Ramadan 29, corresponding to April 20, and hence Eid Al-Fitr could fall on Saturday, April 22. They further added in a statement on its Twitter account that the exact date of the Eid will only be confirmed by the concerned authorities.
Although the sighting of the crescent on Thursday evening is very difficult as it requires a precise telescope, a professional observer, and exceptional weather conditions.
“Sighting the crescent on Thursday is not possible with the naked eye from anywhere in the Arab and Islamic worlds.
“Seeing the crescent on Thursday is not possible with a telescope in most Arab countries, with the exception of parts of West Africa starting from Libya, and therefore Saturday will most probably be the first day of Eid Al-Fitr,” it said in the statement.
IAC stated that due to the possibility of seeing the crescent with a telescope from some parts of the Islamic world on Thursday, and due to the occurrence of conjugation before sunset, and the setting of the moon after sunset in all regions of the Islamic world, it is expected that the majority of the countries of the Islamic world would likely to announce the start of the month of Shawwal on Friday—(KAT)