Singapore's Office of the Mufti explains determination of Shawwal

On May 1, Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, Mufti of Singapore, announced that since the crescent for the month of Shawwal had already set after sunset according to astronomical calculations, May 2 would mark the 30th day of Ramadhan, and Eid would be on May 3.

The announcement caused confusion as neighbouring Malaysia announced that it would be celebrating Eid on May 2, as did a number of other countries around the world. This prompted the Office of the Mufti in Singapore to issue a statement on how the last day of Ramadhan is calculated:

Based on the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ, scholars use two primary criteria, hisab (calculation based on the science of astronomy) and rukyah (رقى, the sighting of the moon) to determine whether the crescent moon is visible.

According to the statement, it is generally extremely difficult in Singapore to see the crescent moon because of predominantly cloudy conditions. Thus, Singapore uses commonly-agreed criteria used by the MABIMS countries (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore) in determining the sighting of the crescent moon. This methodology is known as imkan ar-rukya.

The imkan ar-rukya criteria was most recently revised in 2021 based on more than 700 data points of crescent sightings from around the world. The new criteria considers two parameters during sunset on the 29th day of the Islamic month – the elevation of the crescent moon (which must exceed three degrees), and the degree of elongation of the sun and the moon (which must exceed 6.4 degrees).

Based on these criteria the crescent moon was not visible in Singapore at sunset on 29 Ramadhan. The Office of the Mufti together with experts in the science of astronomy (الفلك, falak) confirmed this by attempting to conduct a physical sighting of the new moon. This was unsuccessful.

While the religious authorities of other MABIMS countries reported that the crescent moon was visible, they only saw it at selected sites in their own territories.

Although the results differed, all MABIMS countries used the same method of determination which was based on the principles and guidance of the Prophet ﷺ, and their individual results are valid in their respective contexts, with Ramadhan in each country being a maximum of 30 days.

The Office of the Mufti also shared a hadith narrated by Imam Muslim that Mu’awiyah fasted till Friday whereas the rest of the Prophet's ﷺ companions fasted till Saturday based on the differences in sighting the crescent moon in the cities of Sham and Madinah. When asked why they did not simply standardise the fasting period, Ibn ‘Abbas replied that such determination (in following the geographical location of a person) was what had been taught by the Prophet ﷺ, even though it would cause different start and end dates for Ramadhan among Muslims.

Oman announces dates of Eid al Fitr holiday for 2016

Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal bin Saud al-Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, Chairman of the Civil Service Council in Oman has announced that the Eid Al Fitr holiday for employees at the ministries, public authorities and other departments of the State Administrative Apparatus will start 5 July 2016 (29 Ramadhan 1437) and end 9 July (3 Shawwal 1437). Work resumes on 10 July 2016. 

Sheikh Abdullah bin Nassir al-Bakri, Minister of Manpower stated the Eid Al Fitr holiday at the private sector will also be from 5 till 9 July.

Employees whose weekly off-days coincide with the holiday must be compensated.

Moon-sighting to determine the start of the month of Shawwal, and therefore the end of Ramadhan and the beginning of Eid will be declared by the competent authorities. 

The decisions were reported by the Oman News Agency.

KSA announces moon sighting procedures

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Higher Court has urged all Muslims in the country to monitor the appearance of the new moon of Shawwal 1436 at sunset on Thursday 16 July, which corresponds to the Hijri date of 29 Ramadhan. If seen, the moon sighting will determine the end of the month of Ramadhan and the beginning of Eid Al-Fitr.

A report by the Saudi Press Agency quoted the Court as saying that the naked eye can be used, or an advanced device. In a statement, the court said that whoever sees the moon is to give his testimony at the nearest court, or request the nearest government centre to help him reach the nearest court.

Call for moon sighting on July 16 in Qatar

The Crescent Sighting Committee at the Ministry of Awqaf (Islamic Endowments) and Islamic Affairs in Qatar has called upon all Muslims living in the country to look out for the Shawwal crescent on 16 July, which corresponds to 29 of Ramadhan of the Hijri year 1436.

Witnesses should head to the ministry headquarters located in Dafna to report any sightings, reported the Qatar News Agency. The committee will meet immediately after the maghrib (sunset) prayer that day.

In a separate announcement the Qatar Foundation subsidiary Msheireb Properties announced that the Eid Prayer Ground at the Msheireb Downtown Doha will be open to public for prayers during Eid Al Fitr.

Jordan to observe Shawwal crescent on July 16

Chief Justice Ahmad Hilayel has called for the observation of the Shawwal crescent marking the start of Eid al-Fitr on the evening of Thursday July 16, the Jordan News Agency has reported.

The new moon (hilal, هلال) will mark the start of the month after Ramadhan, Shawwal. First Shawwal is celebrated as Eid al-Fitr. A number of locations have been chosen for observation of the Shawwal crescent across the Kingdom.

The Chief Justice instructed shari'ah courts to be opened Thursday evening to hear citizens' testimonies according to shari'ah conditions.

The Supreme Judge Department will hold a religious celebration, in the presence of the Grand Mufti, Awqaf minister, senior religious officials and astronomy specialists, where Hilayel will announce the proven or unproven sighting of Shawwal crescent and determine whether Eid al-Fitr on Friday the 17th or on Saturday the 18th.