Crescent Moon Not Sighted; Iranians to Mark Eid Al-Fitr on Tuesday
The Istihlal (moon-sighting) committee affiliated to the office of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei announced that the crescent moon of the month of Shawwal was not sighted on Sunday evening.
Therefore, it said, Monday marks the 30th day of the holy month of Ramadan and the Eid will fall on Tuesday, May 2.
Congregational Eid prayers will be held across the country tomorrow.
In Tehran, the University of Tehran will host the prayers, which will be led by prominent cleric Hojat-ol-Islam Kazem Sedighi.
Most Muslim countries, including Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, as well as Muslims in other countries such as Australia, Britain, and the Philippines are marking Eid al-Fitr today.
In Afghanistan, Oman, Jordan and Morocco, people celebrated the Eid on Sunday.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.
At the end of Ramadan, when the month of Shawwal beings, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr.
Some religious scholars rely on astronomical calculations to determine the beginning of lunar months while most of them believe visual sighting of the moon should be used in this case.
