Muslims to mark Eid ul-Fitr as new moon is set to be sighted

MOMBASA: Muslims in Kenya are expected to usher in the 2015 Eid ul-Fitr prayers from Friday, marking the end of the Holy Month of Ramadhan.

According to the Islamic lunar calendar, the fasting period that started on June 18 ends tomorrow.

But in a press conference last week in Mombasa, Coast Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) Chairman Sheikh Muhdhar Khitamy advised Muslims to observe Eid prayers on Saturday, 18 July, 2015, after a 30-day fasting period.

"There are plans by certain Muslims to mislead their colleagues to pray on Friday, but please don't follow them, "said Khitamy.

Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya Organising Secretary Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa said yesterday the prayers are expected either on Friday or Saturday, depending on the sighting of the new moon.

He said it is the mandate of the Chief Khadhi of Kenya, Sheikh Sharif Al Muhdhar, to officially announce when Muslims will mark Eid -ul-Fitr. "Islamic laws requires that the last day of fasting will only commence after the new moon has been sighted and officially announced by an overall Muslim leader, who is currently the Chief Khadhi of Kenya," said Sheikh Khalifa.

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The Chief Khadhi Wednesday asked Muslims to remain united as fasting comes to end. He said his office has set up a moon sighting committee comprised of Muslim scholars and imams.

"They will be converging in the evenings at the Waqf Centre in Mombasa to receive information from any part of the country on the sighting of the new moon, before I officially alert the rest of the Muslims," said Muhdhar.

The Government has through a gazette notice declared Saturday, 18, 2015 a public holiday.

Eid ul-Fitr that signals the end of the 30-day fasting period, known as Ramadhan, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the Islamic calendar. It is also the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal and fasting is forbidden during the ocassion. Apart from being a religious occasion, Eid is also a social event where people visit each other and exchange gifts after prayers.