The crescent of Shawwal has not been sighted in Arab and Islamic countries (Shutterstock)

The State of Qatar announced that it will not be possible to see the crescent of Shawwal, and tomorrow will be the Tuesday that completes the month of Ramadan, and Wednesday is the first day of Eid Al-Fitr.

The Qatar News Agency reported that the crescent sighting committee at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs announced that tomorrow, Tuesday, April 9, is the continuation of the blessed month of Ramadan, and that the day after tomorrow, Wednesday, is the first day of Eid al-Fitr.

This came in a statement by the committee, issued after its meeting at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs building this evening.

Most Arab and Islamic countries rely on observing the crescent of Shawwal through astronomical observatories, in accordance with the words of the Prophet - may God bless him and grant him peace - “Fast when it is seen, break your fast when it is seen, and keep quiet for it. If it becomes cloudy for you, then complete thirty days.”

After the sighting is confirmed by legal means, the date of Eid al-Fitr will be announced in the countries that adopt the sighting.

On the other hand, some Islamic centers and countries rely on astronomical calculations to determine the start date of Shawwal. In Turkey, for example, the Presidency of Religious Affairs set Wednesday, April 10, as the first day of Eid al-Fitr.

The holy month of Ramadan began on Monday, March 11, in 17 Arab and Islamic countries, including Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Palestine, while the holy month began on March 12 in 4 countries: the Sultanate of Oman, Jordan, Morocco, and Libya, due to the inability to see the crescent moon there.

The crescent of Shawwal will be sighted in most Arab and Islamic countries on the evening of Ramadan 29, 1445 AH, corresponding to Monday, April 8, 2024.

This year, Eid al-Fitr falls amid a devastating war launched by Israel against the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, which has left tens of thousands of civilian victims - most of them children and women - massive destruction in vital facilities and hospitals and an unprecedented humanitarian disaster.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies