المملكة: Investigation of the Shawwal Crescent.. Experts and visionaries: Friday is the first day of Eid al-Fitr astronomically – Urgent

All eyes are on the Kingdom, on Wednesday evening, the twenty-ninth of The blessed month of Ramadanfor the year 1447 AH. The machine for detecting the sighting of the crescent of Shawwal, marking the end of the month of fasting and the beginning of Blessed Eid al-Fitr, as a number of seers and those interested in astronomy prepare to follow the birth of The crescentat various viewing locations throughout the Kingdom.

The seer, Mutaib Al-Barghash, explained that, with God’s grace, the sighting of the crescent depends on the seer’s experience in determining the crescent’s location on the western horizon after sunset, in addition to the clarity of the skies and being free of atmospheric influences such as dust and clouds that may affect the possibility of seeing.

Umm Al-Qura Calendar

The advisor to the Astronomical Observatory at Majmaah University and the seer, Abdullah, reported Al-Khudairi said that the crescent of Shawwal will be seen – God willing – on the evening of Friday, corresponding to Shawwal 1, 1447 AH, corresponding to March 20, 2026 AD, according to the Umm al-Qura calendar, even from within the cities, indicating that the crescent will remain after sunset for about 93 minutes.

He explained that some people might think that the crescent belongs to the previous night, due to the crescent’s long lifespan, which will be approximately 38 hours, in addition to its height above the horizon by about 20 degrees, and its elongation, which is approximately 21 degrees, which makes it high and clear in the sky even from within the cities.

Astronomical Calculations

While the astronomical expert, Dr. Khaled Al-Zaaq, explained that astronomical calculations indicate that Friday March 20, 2026 AD is astronomically expected to be the first day of Eid al-Fitr for the year 1447 AH, indicating that astronomical data suggest that it will not be possible to see the Shawwal crescent on the evening of Thursday, Ramadan 29, corresponding to March 19, 2026 AD, which makes it likely that the month of Ramadan will be completed in thirty days.

In turn, the former climate professor at Qassim University and Vice President of the Weather and Climate Association, Professor Dr. Abdullah, confirmed Al-Musnad said that astronomical calculations indicate that the day of Eid al-Fitr for the year 1447 AH will fall on Friday, March 20, indicating that the month of Ramadan this year will complete thirty days according to astronomical data.

Astronomical conditions

The Musnad indicated that the usual sighting day will be the evening of Wednesday, Ramadan 29, corresponding to March 18, but the astronomical conditions on that day do not allow for sighting of the crescent; The moon will set about 30 minutes before sunset in all regions of the Kingdom, making it impossible to see the crescent.

He added that the moment of conjunction “the birth of the new crescent” will occur at dawn on Thursday, Ramadan 30, corresponding to March 19, at 04:26 in the morning, that is, after sunset on the day of Tarai, which means astronomically that it is impossible for the crescent to appear that night.

The date of Eid al-Fitr

The astronomer explained Indian inspiration, the reasons for the possible difference in the date of Eid al-Fitr between some Islamic countries between Friday and Saturday, indicating that this is due to the difference in the beginning of the month of Ramadan and the methods of proving the beginning of the lunar months.

He indicated that the countries that began the month of Ramadan on Wednesday – such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf countries, and most African countries – will have sightings on the evening of Wednesday, March 18, and on that day, the conditions for seeing them will be unavailable. Because the crescent of Shawwal will not be born until dawn on Thursday, and the moon will set before the sun, making it impossible to see the crescent, and thus Thursday will complete the month of Ramadan, and Friday will be the first day of Eid al-Fitr.

Difference in sighting conditions

Hindi added that the countries that started Ramadan on Thursday – such as the Sultanate of Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, and most East Asian countries – will have their sighting on the evening of Thursday, March 19, and on that day the crescent will be visible. It was born, but the viewing conditions will differ between regions of the world. Visibility will be impossible in East Asia, possible with astronomical photography in West Asia, and will become possible using telescopes in the Sultanate of Oman, the Gulf states, Morocco, and a number of Arab countries, while the possibility of seeing with the naked eye will improve starting in Algeria and its west.

He pointed out that based on these data, most Arab countries are expected to set the Eid crescent on the evening of Thursday, March 19, so that Friday will be the first day of Eid al-Fitr. Al-Mubarak.

Sharia Sighting

He explained that in some countries in East and Central Asia that adopt Sharia sighting without using telescopes or astronomical photography – such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and some Muslim communities in Japan, India, and Australia – it may not be possible to see the crescent on Thursday evening, which may make Friday a continuation of the month of Ramadan in their countries, and Eid al-Fitr will be on Saturday.

While weather and climate researcher Abdul Aziz Al-Hussaini said, according to the calculations Astronomical Ramadan this year 1447 AH – God willing, “thirty” days will be on Thursday, March 19, completing the month of Ramadan, and it is likely that Eid al-Fitr will be on Friday 1/10/1447 AH according to the calendar, corresponding to March 20, 2026 AD, and the Supreme Court of the Kingdom will confirm or deny this, and God knows best. Wednesday, the twenty-ninth of the month of Ramadan, and testimonies of seers will be received in various regions of the Kingdom to prove the beginning of the month, in accordance with what Islamic law requires in establishing the new moon.

• For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Twitter