Which Countries Announced Eid Al-Fitr on Friday
Countries announced the end of Ramadan and the start of the Islamic month of Shawwal via Moon-sightings.
Countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, the UK, and Turkey announced last night that Friday will be the first day of Shawwal, and hence Eid al-Fitr.
This is while Pakistan, Oman, and Iran announced Saturday as Eid al-Fitr.
In a statement, the office of Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei noted that as the moon was not sighted on Thursday evening, Friday will be the 30th day of the blessed month of Ramadan.
The office of Iraq’s top Shia cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani also released a statement on Thursday, noting that Saturday will be the first day of Shawwal.
Also called Feast of Breaking the Fast, Eid al-Fitr is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide.
The solemn festival is a specific day on which Muslims are not permitted to fast.
The holiday celebrates the conclusion of 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal.
Eid al-Fitr has a particular Salah (Islamic prayer) which is generally offered in an open field or a large hall with a congregation in attendance.
Muslims believe that they are commanded by God, as mentioned in Quran, to continue their fast until the last day of Ramadan and pay the Zakat al-Fitr -a ritual offering- before offering the Eid prayers.
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