Eid Al Adha on June 6 as Dhul Hijjah crescent Moon likely to be sighted on May 27: IAC

The crescent moon that marks the start of Dhul Hijjah is expected to be sighted on May 27, according to the International Astronomical Centre (IAC).

"The crescent moon can be seen on that day using a telescope from Central and Western Asia, most parts of Africa, and Europe, and can also be seen with the naked eye from large parts of the Americas," explained Engineer Mohammed Shawkat Odeh, director of the centre.

Recommended For You

US, India start fresh trade talks seeking elusive deal

E-invoicing becomes a foundation for broader digital tax compliance

UAE's mobile market set for data-driven growth as 5G subscriptions surge

Five must-watch movies of superstar Rajinikanth

UAE’s journey a vision that became lasting reality

 

Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.

Four-day holiday

This means Arafat Day will likely fall on Thursday, June 5, followed by Eid Al Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice) on Friday, June 6, in most Islamic countries.

However, if the crescent moon is not sighted on May 27, Dhul Hijjah will begin on May 29. Consequently, Arafat Day will be on June 6, and Eid will be celebrated starting June 7.

According to the UAE Cabinet resolution, Arafat Day will be observed as a public holiday, followed by a three-day break for the Eid Al Adha festival (Dhul Hijjah 10-12). This means residents will have a four-day holiday to celebrate, either from June 5 to June 8 or from June 6 to June 9, including the weekends.

On Friday, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, who is the Chairman of the Emirates Astronomical Society and member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, also said that the first day of Dhul Hijjah is likely to begin on Wednesday, May 28.

Astronomy calculations

According to IAC calculations: "In Abu Dhabi, the moon sets 38 minutes after sunset, at an age of 13 hours and 29 minutes, and is 7.7 degrees away from the sun, making it visible only with a telescope. Similar conditions apply in Makkah, where the moon sets 39 minutes after sunset, at an age of 14 hours and 17 minutes, and is 8.1 degrees away from the sun."

The International Astronomy Centre explained that the numbers related to the crescent's age and duration are not sufficient alone to determine the possibility of seeing it, as visibility is affected by other factors such as the angular distance from the sun and the height above the horizon at the time of observation. The Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle.