New Crescent Society

Imad Ahmed 11 July 2021 / 30 Dhul Qaidah 1442 Unfortunately, we've found ourselves in the same situation again! Muslims in the UK will be celebrating Eid, and fasting for Arafah in the UK, on different dates. This is particularly painful on the day of Arafah, where some Muslims will actually be celebrating Eid, and other Muslims will be fasting! At this time of the year we often get the question: Do Muslims in the UK have to follow Saudi Arabia for Eid al Adha?   The short answer is 'no, you are not obliged  to follow Saudi. Quite the opposite'.  We have prepared some resources which answer the question, below.  But first - what are the dates for Eid al Adha 2021 / 1442? Dates according to Local Moonsighting Eid: Wednesday 21 July / 10 Dhul Hijjah 1442 Fast of Arafat: Tuesday 20 July  / 9 Dhul Hijjah 1442 Saudi-following mosques will be doing all of the above one day earlier. This is because of a glitch in the 'mixed'  Saudi calendar system, leading to a s...

Imad Ahmed Thursday 8 July 2021 27 Dhul Qaidah 1442 A GLITCH IN THE SAUDI MOONSIGHTING SYSTEM? Saudi Arabia have instructed their moonsighters to search for the moon in the horizons on Friday 9 July, tomorrow, which is undeniably scientifically the WRONG date, and a date too early. You can read about this in their press release, here , in English, and here , in Arabic . "Riyadh, July 07, 2021, SPA -- The Supreme Court has called on all Muslims throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to sight the crescent of the month of Dhu Al-Hijjah on Friday Evening, Dhu-AlQa'dah 29, 1442 AH, corresponding to 9 July 2021." This is a day too early, scientifically! WHY DID THEY START A DAY TOO EARLY? This is one of the problems of having a MIXED calendar system, which switches between the fixed Umm al Qura calendar 8 months of a year, to moonsigthing 4 months of a year. Saudi Arabia started the month a day too early, as they began it according to the Umm al Qura calendar, which does not co...