The United Arab Emirates announces great news for citizens and residents: a 6-day holiday in the next two months of Ramadan as well as Eid al-Fitr.
According to the most recent astrological estimates, the holy month of Ramadan is most likely to start on Tuesday, March 12, an analyst informed Khaleej Times. It is anticipated that the 30-day fasting month will end, giving the locals a six-day break to celebrate the Islamic holiday of Eid Al Fitr.
The sighting of the crescent moon, which traditionally establishes the beginning and ending dates of each month in the Islamic Hijri calendar, affects the actual dates of the holy month and the celebration.
According to (astronomical) maps, the Moon is visible to the unaided eye in many locations on March 11, indicating that (the next day, March 12) is probably when Ramadan begins. Widespread green regions on the maps suggest favorable circumstances for observing the new crescent Moon with the unaided eye, according to Khadijah Ahmad, Operations Manager, Dubai Astronomy Group.
The crescent Moon's appearance, which heralds the start of a new lunar month, is the customary beginning of Islamic (months). Similar to this, the appearance of the following crescent Moon signals the end of the month, she clarified.
On March 10, the UAE's Moon seeing committee is anticipated to meet. The first day of Ramadan will be March 11 if it is observed. If not, the month's official start date is March 12.
6-day holiday for Eid Al Fitr?
According to the expert, astrological calculations indicate that the holy month will span 30 days. In such scenario, Wednesday, April 10 will be Ramadan 30. The UAE government has declared a list of public and private sector holidays, and Eid Al Fitr will be observed by the locals from Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3.
The comparable dates in the Gregorian calendar, assuming accurate astronomical calculations, are Tuesday, April 9 (Ramadan 29) to Saturday, April 13 (Shawwal 3). That's a six-day gap if the Sunday weekend is taken into account.
Will solar eclipse affect Moon sighting?
The Moon will completely obscure the Sun on April 8, resulting in a shadow being projected on Earth. There were worries that the lunar observation used to calculate the dates of Eid Al Fitr would be impacted by the celestial occurrence.
Regarding this, Khadijah responded, "Even though the eclipse may not directly affect Moon sightings on Eid, it may affect visibility in some areas, potentially making it more difficult to see the crescent Moon." Islamic officials consider these kinds of astronomical occurrences when issuing official pronouncements.
Weather, fasting hours
In Dubai, the fasting period will begin at the beginning of the month and last for around 13 hours and 45 minutes. By the conclusion of Ramadan, this will progressively rise to around 14 hours and 25 minutes. The expert clarified, "This variation is due to the changing length of the day as the month progresses."
How precise are calculations made in astronomy?
The new Moon's estimated birthdate and the likelihood that it will be seen in a specific area are determined using astronomical computations.
"The actual sighting of the Moon is frequently preferable for religious observances, although these estimates are very accurate and can aid in preparation. Particularly in areas where physical seeing is challenging, some Islamic authorities accept astronomical calculations to identify the start of Ramadan, according to Khadijah.
The custom of seeing the moon relies on firsthand human observation, which isn't always consistent with astronomical predictions. "In the end, the physical sighting of the Moon determines the official start of Ramadan and has the power to confirm or modify the predicted date."
