When will Southall celebrate Eid ul Fitr 2023?
Wed 19 Apr 2023
The fact that the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar is widely known, which means that the date for Eid is determined by the sighting of the moon, making it impractical to pre-select a date.
Similar to any other month, the month of Ramadan can last for 29 or 30 days, determined by the visibility of the moon. Muslims across the globe will seek a moonset shortly after sunset on the 29th day, which falls on Thursday 20th April 2023.
If the moon is visible, they will celebrate Eid the following day, which will be Friday 21st April 2023. In the event that the moon crescent is not sighted, Ramadan will last for 30 days, and Eid ul Fitr will be celebrated on Saturday 22nd April 2023.
All of Southall may celebrate Eid ul Fitr on Friday for the sake of unity and not due to any credible sighting of the moon. This has been the recent trend in Southall.
According to moonsighting.org.uk "the moon will be born on Thursday 20 April 2023 at 04:13 GMT/UT, but it will NOT be visible by the naked-eye anywhere in the UK to Morocco (MA) region on that date. However, on 21 April 2023, the moon may be easily seen in the UK and in most parts of the world. Hence, the month of Shawwal is most likely to start from 22 April 2023, InShaAllah."
For the first time, the British government have provided information for the sighting of the moon for the marking of Eid ul-fitr 2023.
According their data, it will not be possible for the moon to be sighted in the UK or Saudi Arabia on Thursday night, meaning Eid cannot be on Friday 21st April. They state "No sightings with the naked eye are likely from the Middle East, North Africa and the United Kingdom in particular".
Sighting the moon crescent is only possible in good weather after 16 hours of a new moon. However, the Saudi authorities are often deemed to be untrustworthy in their sightings, claiming to have observed the moon much earlier than the rest of the world.
The London Central Mosque has a tendency to blindly accept the Saudi announcements, and a significant number of mosques in the UK tend to follow suit without question.
One of the most experienced astronomers and moonsighters in the Muslim world, Mohamed Shawket Odeh states that it is NOT possible to see the moon, by eyes, binoculars nor telescope anywhere in the Muslim World on Thursday.
Why do only one or two people (in Saudi Arabia) claim to have seen the moon, on a regular basis? Why do surrounding countries never see it on the same day?
To avoid different Eid days, the solution "must be to unite on local sighting" of the moon crescent says Shaykh Suliman Ganj, Imam of Purley Mosque.
Some local residents will go to Northala Hills in Northala Fields for the moon sighting at sunset on Thursday night.
When is Eid ul Fitr 2023?
It’s likely that Eid will be celebrated on two different dates in the UK, as follows:
- Friday 21 April for those who follow Saudi Arabia
- Saturday 22 April for those who follow local UK moonsighting, Morocco and other African countries.
Road Closures
EID road closures will take place on Friday 21st April or Saturday 22nd April 2023. There will be no access to Southall Broadway for any vehicles from 6 pm until midnight.
Date will be confirmed on Thursday 20th April around 8pm (as Friday 21st April 2023). Residents can access surrounding roads on proof of residence at certain entry points.
Ealing Police tweeted "Please familiarise yourself with road closures and residents to have form of ID to present to officers. Those living north of The Broadway access will be granted via Lady Margaret Road. Those living south via The Straight." No access via Beaconsfield Road.
Celebrating on Southall Broadway and disturbing the local residents at night is not the way to celebrate Eid-ul_Fitr. The proper place is with family and friends or the mosque.
Before the Eid prayer, a fitrana (charitable donation) must be given before the end of the month of Ramadan, for the love of Almighty. It is obligatory on every self-supporting adult Muslim who has food in excess of their needs. It is to provide food for the needy. The monetary value (of the food) is approximately £5. This amount needs to be paid for EVERY member of the household.
A lot of (lazy) people leave it to the last minute and hand over the money before the Eid prayers. There is is no way it can reach the poor people in time for Eid.
Do it online TODAY - give to any charity.
Eid Mubarak.If you have a local news story, share it with the rest of Southall, by using the contact form.
