UAE’s Total Solar Eclipse on April 8 Could Influence Moon Sighting for Eid Al Fitr 2024

The Emirates Astronomical Association predicts that Eid Al Fitr 2024 will likely begin on April 10, due to the challenge of spotting the crescent moon of Shawwal, which marks the end of Ramadan. This forecast is based on the expected total solar eclipse on April 8, according to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, the association’s Chairman.

On April 9, the Shawwal crescent won’t be visible after sunset due to the solar eclipse, signaling the final day of Ramadan. The eclipse, spanning North America and starting in the South Pacific Ocean, will darken the Earth as the moon moves in front of the sun.

Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar, commences with the sighting of the moon, marking the start of Eid Al Fitr. The eclipse’s timing will impact religious observances and Eid festivities across the Muslim world, as Muslim months depend on the crescent sighting and can vary from 29 to 30 days.

The convergence of these celestial events underscores the significance of astronomical phenomena in religious calendars and cultural traditions.