KSA announces Hajj days for 2017

The KSA Supreme Court, which had requested the public to view the crescent moon marking the advent of the Islamic month of Dhulhijjah at sunset of 22 August, has announced in a statement that many adult witnesses have testified to their perspective regional courts accordingly, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.

This makes 23 August 1 DhulHijjah according to the Calendar of Umm Al-Qura. Accordingly, the attendance at the Mount of Arafat, the peak and main pillar of Hajj ritual which is also called the Day of Arafat and the 9th day of Dhulhijjah, falls on 31 August 2017. Eid Al Adha falls on 10 Dhulhijjah, or 1 September 2017.

Moon sighting news from the Gulf region for 2017

The Supreme Court has called on all Muslims in KSA to sight the crescent of Ramadhan on May 25. If it is not sighted, then on Friday evening, May 26, 2017, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.

In its announcement, the Supreme Court called on whoever sights the crescent by naked eyes or through binoculars to report to the nearest court and register his testimony, or report to the authority of the region's centre in the area where the crescent was sighted to facilitate his arrival at the nearest court.

The Moon-Sighting Committee in the UAE has announced that the crescent moon was not sighted on 25 May, confirming that Ramadhan has not begun. The Committee has decided to meet on 26 May to see if they can spot the crescent moon.

A visible crescent moon on 26 May will mark the beginning of fasting for Ramadhan on 27 May, and the beginning of a month of tarawih prayers the same evening. If the crescent moon is not seen on 26 May, it implies that the next day is still the month Shaban and the eve of Ramadhan, and that tarawih should be performed from the evening of 27 May, with fasting to begin on 28 May.

posted from Bloggeroid

KSA calls for residents to scan the skies for the new moon on 4 July

The Supreme Court in the KSA has called on all Muslims throughout the kingdom to look out for the new crescent moon on the evening of 4 July, 29 Ramadhan 1437, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.

The moon would mark the beginning of the month of Shawwal and the end of fasting for Ramadhan. Islamic calendar months may be 29 or 30 days long depending on when the moon for the new month is sighted, though some countries rely on astronomical calculations rather than the actual moon sightings.

In its announcement, the Supreme Court called on whoever sights the crescent of the month of Shawwal by the naked eye or through binoculars to register his testimony at the nearest court, or report the event to the relevant authorities for that region.

Dates for Hajj, Eid Al Adha finalised in KSA

The Qatar News Agency has reported that KSA will celebrate Eid Al Adha on September 24, as the Dhul Hijjah moon was not sighted on September 13, 2015, according to a statement from the official moon-sighting committee.

The announcement was made after KSA's moon-sighting committee met to look for the new moon of marking the start of the lunar month of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th and last month of the Islamic calendar. With the moon not sighted, September 14 is established as the last day of the month of Dhul Qaadah, and September 15 starts off the month of Dhul Hijjah. 

The peak of Hajj (Day of Arafat) will be on September 23, 2015, followed by Eid on the day after. 

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.