The Day of Eid ul Fitr will be on Monday 28th July 2014.

This is due to fact that the moon has been sighted in South Africa. A sighting was also reported in Saudi Arabia even though it was NOT possible to do, according to the Royal Observatory (London).

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.

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

On Sunday just after sunset, Muslims throughout the world will be looking for a moonset. If one is visible then the month of Ramadhan lasts for 29 days and Eid will be on Monday. If no moonset is visible after sunset then the month of Ramadhan will be 30 days and Eid will be on Tuesday.

According to the Royal Observatory (London), it will not be possible to see a moonset on Sunday in the UK, in neighbouring Muslim Countries or in Saudi Arabia. The only place possible will be parts of South Africa.

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.

As such, Saudia Arabia is ALWAYS the one to jump the gun and declare Eid early.

No sensible person would IGNORE the facts supplied by the Royal Observatory (London) or sightings by the Saudi moonsighting committees and just accept any Tom, Dick or Harry’s word for it. But that is what the Saudi Government and its followers do.

Muslims follow the timings supplied by the Royal Observatory (London) for 12 months of the year, yet when it comes to Eid, SOME decide to blindly follow Saudi Arabia.

Others rely on scientific data and moonsighting by reliable committees.

This is why Muslims have Eid on different days. It was never seen as a problem in the past, when decisions were taken locally or nationally. With advances in technology, some people expect Eid to be on the same day. But with unreliable decisions by Saudi Arabia, that is not possible.

There are special services on Eid in mosques and donations are very generous. If a mosque were to reject the UNRELIABLE Saudi decision, it could cause divisions among the worshippers and also LOSE A LOT OF MONEY, if worshippers went elsewhere.

The only way to end this mess is for the Saudi Arabian authorities to use OFFICIAL and reliable moonsighting commmittees/persons.

Happy Eid Mubarak.

The Eid jamat times at the AbuBakr Masjid, The Broadway are: 7:00, 8:00, 9:00 and 10:00
The Eid jamat times at the Jamia Masjid, Townsend Road are: 7:00, 8:15, 9:15 and 10:30
The Eid jamat times at the Central Jamia Masjid, Montague Waye are: 7:00, 8:00, 9:00 and 10:00