The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court and Nigeria’s Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs have both called on citizens to look for the new crescent of the month of Shawwal on Tuesday evening, Ramadan 29, 1442 H, which corresponds to May 11, 2021.
In separate statements, the two umbrella bodies of Saudi Arabia and Nigerian Muslims said the sighting of the moon will determine the end of this year’s Ramadan and mark Wednesday as Eid-el-Fitr.
The statements further stated that if the moon is not sighted, Ramadan fast will be 30 days on Wednesday and Thursday will automatically be the Day of celebration.
Muslim News recalled that both countries began their 29/30 days long fast on the same day on Tuesday, April 13.
“If the moon is seen with the eye, the committee will announce the end of Ramadan and the start of Eid-el-Fitr said the Saudi Supreme Court, in a statement.
Investigations by Muslim News revealed that this is the most correct view regarding the commencement and termination of fasting, which is in line with the prophetic tradition, which says:
Abu Hurayrah ﷸ ﷷ narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Fast after you have seen it [the new crescent] and end the fast [at the end of the month] when you see it. If it is hidden from you, then wait until the thirty days of Sha’baan have passed.” [Recorded by Imaams al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The Sultan of Sokoto, who also doubles as the President of NSCIA, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III, therefore, urged Muslims across the country to be on the lookout for the directive from the Sultanate on the completion of this year’s Ramadan fasting.
What is Eid-el-Fitr?
Eid-el-Fitr is a celebration, which marks the end of Ramadan. From its name ‘Fitr’ (breakfast), it is a celebration of ending a whole month of fasting for Muslims.
Roughly translated, Eid-el-Fitr means the “festival of ending the fast” and it is marked by a special prayer on the morning of the first of Shawwal.
