JEDDAH, 1 October 2007 — The first day of Eid Al-Fitr will be Saturday, Oct. 13, according to Dr. Ali Al-Shukri, head of the department of physics at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran.
“Friday, Oct. 12th, will not be the first day of Shawwal but will be the 30th day of Ramadan,” Al-Watan Arabic daily quoted Shukri as saying. He said it would be impossible to sight the Shawwal crescent on Thursday evening. “I say this based on astronomical calculations, and the beginning and end of the months will be determined only after sighting the moon,” Shukri said.
The Emirates Astronomical Society in Abu Dhabi echoed Shukri’s view saying Saturday, Oct. 13, will be Eid Al-Fitr in most Muslim countries.
Official UAE news agency WAM quoted Mohammed Shaukat Awda, a member of the society and chairman of the Islamic Crescents’ Observation Project (ICOP), as saying that astronomical calculations show that Oct. 13 corresponds to the first day of Shawwal. The ICOP has 350 scientists competent in moon sighting and evaluations as members.
Muslim scholars are divided on whether dates of religious occasions such as fasting and Haj could be determined on the basis of astronomical calculations. While one group says technology could be used for the purpose, their opponents say sighting of crescent by naked eye is a must in the light of the Prophet’s instructions.
