The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has declared Sunday, June 16, as the first day of Eid Al Adha for this year, following the sighting of the crescent moon, marking the beginning of Dhu Al Hijjah on Friday, June 7.
As Muslims around the world get ready for one of the most revered holidays in the Islamic calendar, this momentous announcement is made.
The initial request for Muslims worldwide to keep an eye out for the crescent moon was followed by the court’s confirmation on Thursday.
The formal proclamation came about as a result of a later witness testimony from Al Hareeq, which corroborated the sighting despite the country’s observatories’ initial attempts being fruitless.
The court claims that because of the moon sighting, Saturday, June 15, would mark the significant Day of Arafat of the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Hajj.
The Day of Arafat comes before Eid Al Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, which honors Ibrahim’s readiness to offer his son as a sacrifice in accordance to God’s command.
Muslims everywhere celebrate Eid Al Adha with unique prayers, feasts, and charitable deeds that highlight the festival’s emphasis on thankfulness and generosity.
With the announcement from the Saudi Arabian Supreme Court, Muslims around the world can now coordinate their festivities with the Islamic lunar calendar.
One of the five pillars of Islam, the Hajj pilgrimage, is also performed around this time. All Muslims who are physically capable and have the means to do so must perform it at least once in their lifetime.
The pilgrims’ gathering in Mecca and the celebration of Eid Al Adha highlight the deeply spiritual and community-based nature of these celebrations.
