Confusion over moon sighting as govt announces Idd-ul-Fitr

An official is silhoutted as he uses a telescope tp scan for a cresent moon in Jakarta, Indonesia. [Achmad Ibrahim, AP]

As Muslim faithfuls across the globe prepare to celebrate Idd-ul-Fitr marking the end of the Holy month of fasting, Ramadhan, controversy over the dates as to when the fasting period wraps up still lingers.

On Wednesday, 19, 2023, the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki gazetted Friday, April 21 a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Fitr.

Different Muslim scholars and notable muslim leaders have aired divergent views on the gazette notice with some harshly opposing it.

Islamically, Ramadan ends on the sighting of the new moon, which marks the beginning of the next Islamic month, Shawwal, hence Idd is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal.

Over the years, questions have been raised over the government's move to gazette the religious holiday way before the sighting of the moon.

Who sights the moon?

Traditionally, the sighting of the new moon (crescent moon) is done by trustworthy scholars who are identified as "moon-sighters". They are tasked with sighting the moon on the 29th day of the current Islamic month.

Once the moon is sighted, they make the announcement to religious bodies marking the beginning of the new month.

However, if the moon is not sighted, the current month is extended to 30 days, and hence the new month starts on the 30th day.

Traditionally, the sighting is done through naked eye observation although some use telescopes.

Why the confusion on moon sighting?

The confusion is not new across the globe because the sighting depends on geographical location, weather and methodology used to observe the moon.

"Making of Idd-ul-Fitr depends on the Islamic calendar which follows the lunar cycle, that is why the dates of Islamic events and festivals may differ from year to year based on the sighting of the new moon marking the beginning of Shawwal. We have time differences across different countries and that explains a lot," Sheikh Muktar Ahmed, a Muslim scholar and an Imam in Nairobi told The Standard.

Ahmednasir Abdullahi, Constitutional Lawyer and also a Senior Counsel was among those who reacted to Wednesday's announcement by the Interior CS Kithure Kindiki.

"Plainly stupid. Friday is the 30th day of Ramadan. (Broke my Twitter fast to post this tweet)," Ahmednasir took to Twitter.

However, Defence CS Aden Duale had a different view and supported the declaration of Friday, April 21 as Idd-ul-Fitr.

"As we end the fast on Friday, 21st, may our temptations, trials and tribulations also come to an end. Happy Idd-ul-Fitr!," Duale stated on the social networking space.

According to a circular in our possession signed by the Deputy Chief Kadhi Sukyan Hassan Omar and addressed to all Kadhis across the country, the preparations for the sighting of the moon are in top gear.

"I urge all Kadhis to participate in the search of the new moon and coordinate this noble activity with Muslim faithfuls in their respective areas of jurisdiction and communicate any news with the office of the Deputy Chief Kadhi at Upper Hill for the purpose of receiving, verifying and announcing the verified available news.