The Muslim community of Southall will be celebrating Eid-ul-Adha on two different days once again. Some will celebrate on Saturday while others will celebrate on Sunday 5th October 2014.

The Islamic lunar months start with the first sighting of the crescent moon. Each month consists of 29 or 30 days. Muslims look for the crescent moon on the 29th day of each month after sunset.

On Wednesday 24th September 2014 (after sunset) it was not possible to see the crescent moon in the UK. It was not possible for the human eye to detect it in Mecca, Saudi Arabia either. Neither was it sighted in Morocco, the nearest Muslim country.

Yet Saudi Arabia reported a sighting of the crescent moon, just like it had done on many occasions before.

Those Muslims who just follow Saudi Arabia will be celebrating Eid on Saturday 4th October 2014.

Those Muslims who use scientific data (supplied by the Royal Observatory, London) AND moon sightings will be celebrating Eid on Sunday 5th October 2014.

Not all worshipers at some mosques agree with each other on when to celebrate Eid. They can influence/alter the decision of the management. If a mosque does not follow Saudi Arabia, it can create friction/trouble for itself with the worshippers. Some worshippers will go elsewhere to pray Eid, on its biggest money earning day.

It is far easier and financially better to simply go along with Saudi Arabia. Three mosques will be celebrating Eid on Saturday and one will be celebrating it on Sunday.

The Eid prayer times for Saturday are:

Abubakr mosque, The Broadway – 7:45am, 8:45am, 9:45am and 10:45am

Central Jamia Masjid, Montague Waye - 7:30am, 8:30am, 9:30am and 10:30am

Jamia Masjid on Townsend Road will be celebrating Eid on Sunday. The Prayers times will be 7:45am, 8.45am, 9:45am and 11:00am

Ealing Council may agree to relax parking restrictions on some roads on Eid. Please check with the mosques for the latest information.

The Police advise against travelling through Southall on such occasions in the evenings.

Anyone who intends to visit family or friends during the celebrations of Eid-ul-Adha in Southall, is encouraged to use public transport. In the evening traffic restrictions may be in force in Southall to tackle any anti-social behaviour.

Local Police Officers will ensure that those people who are celebrating can do so safely, peacefully and without unwelcome disturbances, whilst at the same time minimising the disruption caused to other communities, residents, businesses and transport systems.

Note:
Muslims in London do not pray the 5-daily prayers at the same time as Saudi Arabia. Neither do they pray at the same time as others in the UK. Since sunrise and sunset times varies throughout the country, so do the prayer times.

Note (from moonsighting.org.uk) :
None of the official Saudi Hilal Committee Members were able to sight the hilal on Wednesday 24th September 2014, but the Supreme Court has accepted the claims of a few early-sighters from near Riyadh (Shaqra/Sudair), even though the moon was not expected to be sighted anywhere in Saudi Arabia or in the whole world on that evening.