When is Eid? Many Muslims are often asked this question in the month of Ramzan as their friends wait for Eid delicacies. This year, their answer has been: “Either on June 15 or 16”. The confusion over the date of Eid ul-Fitr 2018 is because Muslims celebrate the festival after the new moon appears either after 29 days of fasting or 30 days. After a month of fasting and sacrifice, Muslims will celebrate Eid ul-Fitr after sighting of the crescent moon which will officially end the month of Ramzan. In Ramzan, the 9th month of Islamic calendar, Muslims observe fast and abstain from food and water from dawn to dusk. They are also expected to abstain from worldly desires and offer special prayers. 12 months of Islamic calendar carry either 29 or 30 days. Ramzan also has either 29 or 30 days and Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of ShawwÄl, the 10th month of Islamic calendar. However, the number of days in the month is only established after sighting of the moon. People from across the world try to see the moon after sunset (when they break the fast) on 29th Ramzan. Some are stuck to radio, TV news and internet for any information on the sighting of the moon. Also Read: There is more to Eid than sewai and biryani The suspense over Eid date remains on till late night until it is confirmed that moon has been sighted. If the moon is sighted in any part of the Indian subcontinent, all Muslims in the region celebrate Eid ul-Fitr with fervour the next day. There are, however, exceptions, as some sects have more strict rules to establish that the moon has been sighted and rely on individual testimonies than scientific methods. On Thursday, the sun in Delhi-NCR will set at 7:22 pm and that is when devotees will break their fast. After that, all eyes will be set on the sky to spot the moon. In Delhi-NCR, moon sighting can be difficult as the sky has been engulfed with thick haze. The crescent moon appears only for a few minutes on the first day of the month and if people miss the chance to spot it, they have to rely on sources from other cities. While local mosques make announcements after confirmation from various sources in other cities, you can also tune in here to check if we will celebrate the Eid on Friday or on Saturday.<doc-sep>Tunisia goalkeeper ‘fakes’ injury to break Ramadan fast top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Eid al-Fitr translates from Arabic to “festival of breaking the fast.” The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is held during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is a time for spiritual reflection, as well as spending time with loved ones. Eid al-Fitr marks the beginning of the tenth month in the Islamic calendar, known as Shawwal. When is Eid 2018? Eid is celebrated when the new moon is observed by local religious authorities, so the exact date of celebrations varies by region. The exact date of Eid in the UK is yet to be determined. Depending on the sighting of the crescent moon, it should fall on either June 14 or 15. The exact date of Eid in the UK is yet to be determined. How is Eid celebrated? Eid marks the end of the solemn period of reflection observed during the month of Ramadan, and is a joyous celebration. It is traditionally celebrated for three days and is a national holiday in most Muslim countries. In the UK, people tend to celebrate by taking a day off work or school. Eid is celebrated when the new moon is observed by local religious authorities The celebrations usually begin with early morning prayers. The rest of the day is dedicated to spending time with friends and family. Gifts are exchanged, and feasting ensues during daylight hours for the first time since before Ramadan. The food differs depending on location, there is no one meal that is served worldwide. The celebrations usually begin with early morning prayers.<doc-sep>The end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, is marked by the religious holiday of Eid a-Fitr in mid-June. Related: Ramadan Quotes 2018: Sayings About Fasting and the Muslim Holy Month When Eid al-Fitr takes place depends on the lunar cycle. This year, it will likely start on the evening of June 14, but the timing could change closer to the date contingent on crescent moon sightings. Some celebrations go on for as long as three days. The date shifts annually because the Islamic calendar revolves around the moon's cycle, while the Gregorian calendar runs on the sun's cycle. What's more, Muslims disagree on whether the lunar sighting counts when seen with the human eye, or with a telescope, or using mathematical calculations. Eid al-Fitr is Arabic for the "festival of breaking the fast," and Muslims around the world celebrate the end of the holy month. During Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, intercourse and other activities that are considered worldly from sunrise to sunset, and devote themselves to religious self-reflection. In honor of Eid al-Fitr, many Muslims buy new clothes, pray early at a mosque and exchange gifts among their family and friends. Eid al-Fitr is a public holiday in many Muslim-majority countries. Saudi Arabia's King Salman on Wednesday extended this year's Eid al-Fitr, giving government employees and military members more time. Work will resume there on June 24, according to Arab News. The most common saying is "Eid Mubarak," which means "Blessed Eid." Other popular phrases for the day are "Eid Saeed," meaning, "Happy Eid," and "Kul 'am wa enta bi-khair," which translates to "May every year find you in good health." Eid al-Fitr also signals the beginning of the month of Shawwal, which fittingly starts with a feast. Eid al-Fitr should not be confused with the other Eid of the year, Eid al-Adha, which happens two months later and is a feast honoring the prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael following Allah's command.<doc-sep>In the 21st century, shouldn't a single date on which Muslims celebrate Eid in a big country like India be an issue worth thinking about? In the first week of June 2018, a report appeared in Mumbai's Urdu newspapers before the third week of Ramzan ended. It was said that the special itikaf, done during the last ashr (ten days) of Ramzan, will start a day later. Actually, this issue was of the moon or the Hijri date. Since Islamic Hijri era is calculated according to the lunar cycles, this year's Ramzan was also going on at different times across India, because the moon had not been visible in some parts of the country. Thus, roja was observed wherever the moon was visible. After a few days, Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated and there is a good chance that this problem with the moon will persist. Many times, Eid was celebrated on one day in one part of the country and on another day in another part. In the 21st century, shouldn't a single date on which Muslims celebrate Eid in a big country like India be an issue worth thinking about? Apart from an effort to show Muslim unity, Eid being celebrated on a single date would have sent the practical message of unity. And everyone would be able to have a holiday on the same day. Different Muslim religious groups, organisations and institutions such as Muslim Personal Law Board should take initiative in this direction. Keeping in mind some religious rules, the moon's visible day can be determined on the basis of astronomical calculations. Right now, it is a necessary practice to see the moon to celebrate Eid. It is only after viewing of the moon that the Islamic months begin and end, like the months of Ramzan and Shawwal. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the first date of Shawwal. Thus, after Eid al-Fitr moon is seen, the month of Shawwal begins. It is this moon which also marks the end of the month of Ramzan. Many religious scholars say that in the Quran, there are no clear instructions about determining the month by looking at the moon, but it refers to the arrival of the month. Despite this, if anyone finds out through any source that Ramzan has arrived, he or she should keep fast. Therefore, it is not necessary to view the moon in a way that has become traditional in our country to decide on Ramzan or Eid. Similarly, the Hadith (statements and deeds of Hazrat Muhammad Sallam) also speaks of 'knowledge'. At present, there is an overwhelming majority of Muslims of Hanifi, Maliki, Hambli and Shafai ideologies. Now, whether they are living in America, Canada, Australia, UK, Europe, West Asia or elsewhere, they all depend on Saudi Arabia for the moon sighting. Therefore, Ramzan begins with the announcement of Ramzan from Saudi Arabia, and even if Eid is announced there, others also celebrate Eid. On the contrary, the religious scholars of the South Asian countries still cling to seeing the moon by referring to the change in horizon. Keeping an archaic view alive, they continue issuing instructions to celebrate Eid on the sighting of the new moon. Although this year, the situation has changed and many Muslims in many parts of the country did not see the moon themselves but had accepted Ramzan on the basis of information received from the media. The point of the matter is that while not negating the tradition of seeing the moon in the new month, there should also be arrangements made — on the basis of mathematical calculations and astronomy — to decide on the moon. The issue connected with this is that of the means of setting the roja, the prayer of Magrib (at sunset) and the time of Sahri. These three practices are fully connected with sunrise and sunset. Their calculations can also be determined on a scientific basis. It should be remembered that before the arrival of Hazrat Muhammad, the calendar of Jews was prevalent in 'Tour-Gothiyyat' (age of agony). This was also a moon-based calendar. But an extra month was added to this calendar so that Haj or other festivals would fall during a specified time instead of falling in summer or winter. Later, Hazrat Muhammad made the moon-based calendar, from which all the festivals came into being in the natural order of every season. (The author is a Visiting Fellow at Observer Research Foundation and author of the book 'Ballot: Ten Episodes That Prepared India's Democracy'.)<doc-sep>
Eid 2018: Eid Ul Fitr depend upon the sighting of the crescent moon. Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of the fasting month of Ramzan. The faithful offers prayers at mosques and idgahs to seek blessings of the divine as the festival symbolises peace and brotherhood. It is marked with feasts and the people, especially children, dress up in their traditional fineries to mark Eid that spreads the message of brotherhood and communal harmony. During Ramzan, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking during daylight hours for about 30 days. Eid al Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of Islamic lunar calendar. Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) on Eid date and timings of moon sighting: When is Eid 2018 in India? Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated across India on June 16. In Kerala, however, it would be observed on June 15, Friday. How is Eid celebrated? On Eid, people wear new clothes and visit holy shrines to seek blessings of the divine. The festival is marked with feasts and the meeting of families, relatives and friends, where they exchange greetings and gifts with each other. The date and time of Eid differ in various countries, depending upon the sighting of the crescent moon. The astronomical new moon occurs at 1:12 am on June 14 and thus, the first visible crescent will occur on June 15, marking Eid-ul-Fitr the next day. When is Eid al Fitr in other countries? While Australia and New Zealand will ring in the festival on Saturday, Singapore and Malaysia are observing it on Friday. Eid-ul-Fitr is also being celebrated in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates Friday. How is Eid celebrated? On Eid, people wear new clothes and visit holy shrines to seek blessings of the divine. The festival is marked with feasts and the meeting of families, relatives and friends, where they exchange greetings and gifts with each other.