Eid-el-fitr: Saudi Arabia sights shawwal crescent moon

Eid-el-fitr: Saudi Arabia sights Shawwal crescent moon

Juliet Buna

The Shawwal crescent moon has been sighted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Thursday, April 20, 2023.

This is according to a statement issued from the Saudi Arabia Royal Court this evening, Thursday, April 20, 2023.

“The Crescent for the month of Shawwal 1444 was SEEN today in Tumair and Sudair subsequently tomorrow i.e Friday, 21st April 2023 is the day of Eid Al Fitr,” the Royal Court said.

Meanwhile, the moon is yet to be sighted in Nigeria as of the time of filing this report.

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) had earlier called on the Nigerian Muslim ummah to search for the crescent of Shawwal 1444 A.H. immediately after sunset on Thursday, 29 Ramadan 1444 A.H., which is equivalent to 20 April, 2023.

Observant Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk, and traditionally gather with family and friends to break their fast in the evening.

It is also a time of prayers, with the faithful converging in large numbers at mosques, especially at night.

Fasting is widely practised in Saudi Arabia, home of the holiest shrines in Islam in Mecca and Medina.

Saudis are expected to observe a four-day holiday for Eid al-Fitr.