Will all of Southall and the UK be celebrating Eid ul Fitr on the same day, tomorrow, Tuesday 4 June 2019?

The London Central Mosque, which simply follows Saudia Arabia, has announced that "We are pleased to announce to the whole Muslim Community in the U.K that Tuesday 4 June 2019 is the Eid ul-Fitr Day and the 1st of Shawwal 1440 Hijri."

Most people are aware of the fact that the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. This means that Eid is decided upon the sighting of moon and therefore it is not practical to pick a date in advance.

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The month of Ramadhan can be 29 or 30 days depending on the visibility of the moon.

Muslims throughout the world, will be looking for a moonset just after sunset, If one is visible they will be celebrating Eid on Tuesday 4 June 2019.

The New Crescent Society wrote “We have received news that Saudi Arabia have 'seen' the moon. If this is the case, then we are shocked."

"To reiterate - the moon was less than 6 hours old, at an altitude less than 1 degree. It is not possible to 'see' in any sense of the word. To have' seen' this moon would have constituted a world record. More likely of course - it is another case of a false Saudi sighting report."

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"We did not think Saudi would 'sight' this moon. This is because we thought that the Kingdom would not break their own internal rules of reporting a moon sighting that has less than one degree altitude on the horizon at sunset."

"The moon was not visible anywhere in the inhabited world. This accords with the statement issued by Her Majesty's Nautical Almanac Office earlier today."

Saudi Arabia has eleven moonsighting committees. These committees are UNABLE to see a moonset when the Royal Observatory (London) says that it is NOT possible to see one. Yet, each year the same individuals claim to have seen the moonset when ALL others have failed to see it and it is NOT possible to see it. The Saudi Authorities accept moonsighting claims by any person irrespective of whether it is possible to see one or not.

Saudia Arabia does not state that other countries should follow their conclusions. The London Central mosque, which is funded by Saudi Arabia, does not ask/instruct any other mosque in the UK to follow their conclusions/instructions.

For the sake of unity all the mosques in Southall will be celebrating Eid ul Fitr on Tuesday 4 June 2019, not because there was a reliable sighting of the moon.

On Eid-ul-Fitr it is recommended to eat something before going for Eid prayers. On Eid-ul-Adha is recommended to eat after the Eid prayers. On both occasion, after the Eid prayers, one should return home via a different route.

The Eid prayers are not compulsory for Muslims but the 5 times daily prayers are.

Eid Mubarak.