Muslims In USA Observe Eidul Fitr Today While Indians Still Wait For Moon 

Washington (DC) – Muslims in North America are observing Eidul Fitr on Sunday, June 25, following an official announcement by the Fiqh Council of North America.

Unlike the many Muslim countries that depend on sighting the crescent moon with the naked eye, the FCNA uses astronomical calculations.

On its website, the FCNA states that it “recognizes astronomical calculation as an acceptable Shar’i method for determining the beginning of Lunar months including the months of Ramadan and Shawal.”

If the Eid moon would be spotted in India today, Eid-al-Fitr would be celebrated on Monday. In the case of no sighting of the moon, the Eid prayers would be held on Tuesday.

The Council stated that “The Astronomical New Moon is on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at 2:33 Universal Time. On that day, somewhere close to South Africa at sunset the elongation is 8 degrees and moon is 5 degrees above the sun. Therefore, first day of Shawwal 1438 is on Sunday, June 25, 2017, insha’Allah.”

In Saudi Arabia, depending on the information given by moon sighters and the ensuing decision of the Judicial High Court, Eid al-Fitr will begin on either June 25 or 26.

Most of the Islamic nations like Qatar, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Kenya, Australia, etc are also celebrating Eid Al-Fitr on Sunday while India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and others would observe Chand Raat today. If the Eid moon would be spotted in above regions today, Eid-al-Fitr would be celebrated on Monday. In the case of no sighting of the moon, the Eid prayers would be held on Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump Extends Warm Greetings To Muslims On Eid-Al-Fitr

Donald Trump in a statement said,"On behalf of the American people, Melania and I send our warm greetings to Muslims as they celebrate Eid al-Fitr. During this holiday, we are reminded of the importance of mercy, compassion, and goodwill."

“With Muslims around the world, the United States renews our commitment to honor these values,” the statement further reads.

The US President has come under scanner for his anti-Muslim rhetoric on the campaign trail.

During his campaign, he mused, “I think Islam hates us.” And only a week after taking office, he signed an executive order to ban immigrants from seven countries Iraq, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen from entering the United States, a decision that sparked widespread protests at the nation’s airports and demonstrations outside the White House.

However, last month on his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Trump softened his tone on Islam before dozens of leaders of Muslim countries.

Here’s how the date of Eid is decided around the world

Eid-al-Fitr 2017 is being celebrated across the world with fervour but, most people are unaware of the fact as to how the date of the auspicious occasion is decided.

Nearly two billion Muslims living around the world see the moon at the end of the month of Ramadan. Muslims believe in the lunar calendar. The date of this calendar is determined according to the appearance of the moon in different forms. Ramadan comes in the ninth month of this calendar. Every year there is a gap of about eleven days in this calendar. The lunar calendar is very important for Muslims. By looking at this calendar and moon, not only the dates of Ramzan are determined, but on the day of Eid, it is decided only by seeing the moon.

If Muslims, who had been fasting in Ramzan, had believed in the solar calendar then Ramzan would be celebrated in different time and months throughout the world. In some countries, it will come in December and some countries will celebrate it in June. But according to the lunar calendar, all Muslims celebrate Ramzan together all over the world, not only on account of varying dates but they also experience Ramadan in different seasons.

The day of Eid comes on the tenth month of the lunar calendar on the first day of ‘Shawwal’. But Islam has been discussing what is the original day of Eid and how it should be determined. In many countries, Muslims themselves depend on the officers of the country who are given the responsibility of seeing the moon, instead of people themselves seeing the moon. While some people also determine this day by looking at the solar calendar. And nowhere else happens that people see the new moon with the help of astronomy. The whole world never celebrates Eid on the same day. However, there is a difference of more than one day or two in the dates of celebration of Eid.

For example, the date of Eid is confirmed in Saudi Arabia after the sighting of the moon. Many Muslim countries celebrate Eid only on the fixed date in Saudi Arabia. However, the government of the country decides the date of Eid in Shia-populated country, Iran. While Iraq, where both Shia and Sunni Muslims live, people from both communities follow their religious leaders. For the first time in Iraq in 2016, the Shia and Sunni Muslims celebrated the Eid together. While the secular country Turkey decides Eid with the help of astronomy, Muslims in Europe follow the decisions of leaders of their communities.