Jordan Times
Friday, October 12, 2007
Eid Al Fitr starts today
By Mohammad Ghazal
AMMAN - Chief Islamic Justice and Imam of the Hashemite Court Ahmad Hilayel announced that Friday was the first day of Eid Al Fitr, marking the end of 29 days of Ramadan fasting.
The statement was issued following a traditional ceremony to watch the new moon of Shawwal (the 9th month of the lunar calendar) held at the King Hussein Mosque.
Hilayel said in a statement that the crescent was sighted in several Muslim countries “which makes tomorrow [Friday] the first day of the blessed Eid Al Fitr”, stressing the need for Muslims to have agreement on issues related to their religion.
Nine other Arab countries announced that Eid Al Fitr starts Friday. They were: Qatar, Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Libya.
Eid Al Fitr starts with the sighting of the new moon, in accordance with a saying by Prophet Mohammad that orders Muslims to declare the start, as well as the end, of the fasting month on the basis of the sighting.
Hayel Daoud, a professor in Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) at the University of Jordan’s Sharia Faculty, said the moon sighting can be either by the naked eye or through a telescope, adding that the testimony of two persons is needed for ending the fasting month.
Asked if it is acceptable to rely on astronomical calculations in announcing the start and the end of Ramadan, Daoud said: "We do not rely on these calculations in accordance with the Prophet's saying that says the start and the end of the month is based on actual sighting of the moon."
On the occasion, His Majesty King Abdullah received congratulatory cables of good wishes from leaders of Arab, Islamic and foreign countries along with senior officials and officers.