19 April 2023 , 11:26
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The Islamic festival of Eid ul Fitr 2023 is coming this week with announcements to be based on whether the first crescent of the new moon is seen in any given location.
At present, Eid is expected to fall on either April 21 or 22, with huge celebrations set to take place across the UK.
Scholars will be looking for the moon on the 29th day of the month, which is Thursday for those who started Ramadan on March 23, and Friday for those in India and Bangladesh who started Ramadan a day later on March 24.
British astronomers who work for HM Nautical Almanac Office, a Government agency providing data for police, armed forces, diary manufacturers and others, have forecast the likelihood of seeing the moon.
They have looked at the visibility for the crescent in the UK as well as in Morocco and Saudi Arabia, to predict the exact date of Eid ul Fitr this year, BirminghamLive reports.
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Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Mecca is two hours ahead of UK time (BST).
Thursday, April 20 - moon not visible
Friday, April 21 - moon is easily visible with the naked eye. Sunset 6.42pm, moonset 8.05pm (local times)
Saturday, April 22 - moon is easily visible with the naked eye. Sunset 6.43pm, moonset 9.05pm (local times)
Rabat, Morocco
Morocco is the same as UK time (BST)
Thursday, April 20 - moon not visible
Friday, April 21 - moon is easily visible with the naked eye. Sunset 7.03pm, moonset 8.44pm (local times)
Saturday, April 22 - moon is easily visible with the naked eye. Sunset 7.04pm, moonset 9.50pm (local times)
Birmingham, UK
Thursday, April 20 - moon not visible
Friday, April 21 - moon is easily visible with the naked eye. Sunset 8.16pm, moonset 10.23pm (local times)
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Saturday, April 22 - moon is easily visible with the naked eye. Sunset 8.18pm, moonset 11.45pm (local times)
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London, UK
Thursday, April 20 - moon not visible
Friday, April 21 - moon is easily visible with the naked eye. Sunset 8.07pm, moonset 10.11pm (local times)
Saturday, April 22 - moon is easily visible with the naked eye. Sunset 8.09pm, moonset 11.32pm (local times)
Timings elsewhere in the UK will be similar.
What does this mean for Eid ul Fitr 2023?
The information all points to the moon not being seen on Thursday, meaning Ramadan and its daily fasting will continue for one more day.
As Islamic days run from sunset to sunset, Ramadan is therefore expected to technically come to an end on Friday evening. The first day of the next month, Shawwal, will then be on Saturday, April 22, and will see the start of the Eid ul Fitr festivities, including two huge gatherings taking place in Birmingham.
HM Almanac Office does add that although the moon may be visible from some corners of the world on Thursday, it won't be spotted in any of the key locations where Islamic date announcements are made. It said: "The instant of new moon takes place on Thursday, April 20 2023 at 04:13 Universal Time or 05:13 British Summer Time. No sightings with the naked eye are likely from the Middle East, North Africa and the United Kingdom in particular."