Reports and rumors have circulated online claiming that Saudi Arabia incorrectly declared Sunday, March 30, as a day of Eid el-Fitr, with assertions that the celebration should have taken place on Monday, March 31.
A viral video by an individual who looked an Arab man further fueled these claims, spreading on social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook, with captions suggesting that Saudi Arabia had admitted to an error.
This development, Muslim News gathered, has led to speculation that other countries, including Nigeria, who observed Eid prayers on Sunday, should also acknowledge the mistake.
Our investigations revealed that Saudi Arabia didn’t issue any statement admitting to an error contrary to the circulated video and other unconfirmed reports.
Saudi Arabia officially announced the moon sighting for Eid el-Fitr through its Supreme Court, which confirmed that credible witnesses had reported seeing the crescent moon.
Based on this, the Kingdom declared Sunday as Eid day, aligning with Islamic guidelines. This process is a well-established practice that has been followed for centuries, involving multiple independent sightings before an official declaration is made.
Who is the man in the circulated video?
Further findings pointed out that the man in the viral video is Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Al Hasanaat. He is not a Saudi scholar or representative as erroneously claimed in several social media posts. He is actually the Mufti of Jordan, who was referring to the inability to sight the moon in their own country, Jordan, after sunset of Saturday, thereby declaring Monday as Eid-el-Fitr.
The video was published on the official handles of Al-Mamlaka TV, Jordanian Public Service News Channel, with caption:
مفتي عام المملكة يعلن الأحد المتمم لشهر رمضان ويوم الاثنين أول أيام عيد الفطر المبارك
Meaning: The Mufti of the Kingdom announces the final Sunday of Ramadan and Monday is the first day of Eid al-Fitr WATCH HERE
According to Muslim News in-house Scholar, Ustadh Ibraheem Ahmad, who is also the Founder, Sharia Labs, UK, “Not everyone that speaks Arabic is from Saudi Arabia. Besides, a representative of Saudi Arabia will never dress like that. It’s not even an Egyptian dress, rather Jordanian. Misinterpretations like these often cause unnecessary confusion, highlighting the need to verify sources before spreading information.”
Was it only Saudi Arabia that sighted moon on Saturday?
Many assume that only Saudi Arabia announced the moon sighting, but other countries such as the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait also independently confirmed the crescent’s sighting and declared Eid accordingly. Similarly, in Nigeria, moon sighting reports came not just from the Sultan of Sokoto but also from individuals in Ilorin, reinforcing the decision through multiple sources.
How reliable is astronomical predictions?
While astronomical predictions can assist in moon sighting, Ustadh Ahmad argued that they are not flawless, adding that, “Historical and modern experiences have shown discrepancies in such calculations.”
He said the Sunnah emphasizes physically looking for the moon to determine the start and end of Ramadan, noting that If the crescent is not sighted, completing 30 days is the correct approach, ensuring unity and adherence to Islamic traditions.
“Making an error in moon sighting is not the issue; the real problem arises when false claims are made or defended without verification. Islam promotes humility and truthfulness, and correcting mistakes enhances community trust rather than diminishing it,” he added.
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