Moon sighting for Shawwal slated for Thursday night

The official meeting to declare the sighting of the moon to mark the beginning of the month of Shawwal has been slated for Thursday night by the Islamic Ministry.

The meeting is scheduled for 8:45pm on Thursday night at the meeting hall in Islamic Centre which would be broadcasted live on TV, radio and Islamic Ministry’s Facebook page.

Moon sighting will be extended to all islands across the Maldives. Anyone who sights the moon on Thursday night will have to testify in front of a judge at a court or a magistrate at a magistrate court should the person be based in atolls.

If the moon is sighted in a foreign nation, the information will be shared by Foreign Ministry.

As per the Maldivian Hijri calendar, the first of Shawwal and the Eid al-Fitr falls on Friday, April 21^st.

Astronomical scholar and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom states the first of Shawwal would fall on Friday, April 21^st, based on astronomical information. However, Abu Dhabi-based astronomical body, International Astronomical Centre (IAC), differs stating it will likely fall on Saturday, April 22^nd.