Thursday declared Eid al-Fitr

Ministry of Islamic Affairs has tonight declared next Thursday, the 8th of August, as the day of Eid al-Fitr for the year 2013.

A meeting held in Islamic Centre declared that the moon was not sighted any part of Maldives tonight and thus, tomorrow, 7th of August 2013 is the last day Ramadan this year and that Thursday, the 8th of August, is the 1st of Shawwal of the Islamic calendar.

A statement read by the Permanent Secretary at the Islamic Ministry Mohamed Didi said that; because the moon for the month of Shawwal has not been sighted in any part of the country, and because the moon for the month of Shawaal has not been sighted in any other Islamic state, the Ministry declares tomorrow as the 30th day of the month of Ramadan.

Reliable astronomical calculations show Fitr al-Eid to fall on the 8th of August for most Islamic countries this year. While most Islamic countries will fast for 29 days, Maldives and Turkey will fast a total of 30 days this year.