Not all of Southall or the UK will be celebrating Eid ul Fitr on the same day. Eid will be celebrated on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th July 2015, as no reliable crescent moon sightings have been reported anywhere in the world.

The London Central Mosque, which simply follows Saudia Arabia, has announced that “We are pleased to announce to the WHOLE Muslim community in UK” that Eid-ul-Fitr will be on Friday, even though there was ZERO chance of Moon being sighted in Saudi Arabia.

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.

Today, just after sunset, Muslims throughout the world were looking for a moonset. If one is visible then the month of Ramadhan lasts for 29 days and Eid will be on Friday. If no moonset was visible after sunset then the month of Ramadhan will be 30 days and Eid will be on Saturday.

According to HM Nautical Almanac Office the crescent moon will not be visible today in Mecca or the UK. Nor would it be possible to see it with the naked eye elsewhere in the world. So Eid cannot be on Friday. But that has not stopped Saudi Arabia from contradictory announcement in the past.

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 committees/persons.

Eid Mubarak.

Friday Eid jamat times:
AbuBakr Masjid, The Broadway are: 6:00, 7:00, 8:00 and, 9:00
Central Jamia Masjid, Montague Waye are: 6:00, 7:00, 8:00 and, 9:00

Saturday Eid jamat times:

Jamia Masjid, Townsend Road are: 7:00, 8:15, 9:15 and 10:30