MAKKAH – The majority of Muslims worldwide will celebrate `Eid Al-Fitr, which crowns the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, on Sunday, June 25, after Saudi officials confirmed seeing the moon of Shawwal.

Religious authorities in Saudi Arabia have announced that the new moon of Shawwal, the 10th month of Islamic calendar, was sighted on Saturday, June 24.

“Therefore, Sunday, June 25, will be the first day of Shawwal,” Khaleej Times reported.

`Eid Al-Fitr will also start Sunday, June 25, in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Jordan.

Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta (House of Fatwa) has also announced that Sunday, June 25, will be the start of `Eid Al-Fitr.

In Nigeria, Sultan of Sokoto and President-General Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, announced that Sunday will be the first day of `Eid Al-Fitr.

Algeria, Lebanon and Libya will also celebrate `Eid on Sunday.

`Eid Al-Fitr is one the two main Islamic religious festivals along with `Eid Al-Adha.

During `Eid days, families and friends exchange visits to express well wishes and children, wearing new clothes bought especially for `Eid, enjoy going out in parks and open fields.

In Australia, Imams Council of the ACT said `Eid Al-Fitr will be celebrated on Sunday.

Muslims in North America will celebrate the feast on Sunday, according to a statement by the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) and Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).

Monday

As the crescent was sighted in Mangalore, Kerala, `Eid-al-Fitr to be celebrated on Sunday.

Nevertheless, it will be marked on Monday in other parts of India as well as Pakistan.

Authorities in Oman said `Eid will be celebrated on Monday.

In Morocco, `Eid will be celebrated on Monday, according to a press release from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowment.

Moon sighting have always been a controversial issue among Muslim countries, and even scholars seem at odds over the issue.

While one group of scholars sees that Muslims in other regions and countries are to follow the same moon sighting as long as these countries share one part of the night, another states that Muslims everywhere should abide by the lunar calendar of Saudi Arabia.

A third, however, disputes both views, arguing that the authority in charge of ascertaining the sighting of the moon in a given country announces the sighting of the new moon, then Muslims in the country should all abide by this.