Mon Mar 31 11:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Eid al-Fitr Moon-Sighting Controversy Reignites as Saudi Arabia’s Practices Questioned
**London, UK** – The annual debate surrounding the sighting of the crescent moon marking the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid al-Fitr is once again sparking controversy within the Muslim community. Astronomers worldwide, including the UK’s His Majesty’s Nautical Almanac Office and the UAE-based International Astronomy Centre, concur that the crescent moon will be invisible on Saturday, March 29th, in most of the world, rendering any sighting impossible, even with telescopes.
However, Saudi Arabia, whose Umm al-Qura calendar pre-determines key religious dates, has already declared Sunday, March 30th, as the first day of Shawwal, the month of Eid al-Fitr. This aligns with a pattern of previous years where Saudi Arabia has announced Eid despite astronomical evidence suggesting the new moon was not visible. Critics accuse the kingdom of “faking” moon sightings, a charge Saudi authorities have consistently ignored.
This year’s controversy echoes similar incidents in 2023 and 2024, where astronomers publicly challenged Saudi Arabia’s announcements. In 2023, prominent Kuwaiti astronomer Adel al-Saadoun even issued a challenge to provide photographic evidence of a sighting deemed scientifically impossible. While a blurry image was subsequently shared, it failed to fully address the skepticism.
The reliance on Saudi Arabia’s announcements by many Muslim countries creates a global disparity in Eid celebrations. While some countries will follow Saudi Arabia’s lead, others, such as Oman and Jordan, have historically diverged. Many countries, including Egypt, Kuwait, and the UAE, generally align with the Saudi declaration, while others like Iran conduct their own moon sighting.
In the UK, this leads to divisions within the Muslim community, with some following Saudi Arabia, others Morocco, and a growing number opting for local moon sightings championed by organizations like the New Crescent Society. Imad Ahmed, the society’s director, advocates for a unified UK Islamic calendar, aiming to end the internal divisions caused by differing Eid dates.
The controversy highlights the tension between traditional moon sighting practices, astronomical reality, and the influence of a pre-calculated calendar like the Umm al-Qura. Whether Saudi Arabia will deviate from its predetermined calendar this year remains uncertain, but the ongoing debate underscores the need for greater transparency and a potentially unified approach to determining the start of Eid al-Fitr across the global Muslim community.
First Piper 