السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
It’s Friday 23rd June 2023 / 4 Ẓūl Ḥijjah 1444H
When is ‘Eid ul-Aḍḥā?
Last Sunday 18th June corresponded with 29 Ẓūl Qā’dah. It was Moon Sighting night here in the UK. Despite efforts being made across the country, the moon could not be sighted. Negative sighting news was also received from our nearest Islāmic country, Morocco.
Therefore, we completed 30 days of Ẓūl Qā’dah. According to this, ‘Eid ul-Aḍḥā will be celebrated on Thursday 29th June, اِنْ شَاءَ الَّلهُ. For those following Saudi Arabia, Moon Sighting claims were made on Sunday night; therefore, they will be celebrating ‘Eid on Wednesday.
The purpose of my message today is to guide you towards the correct day, to the best of my knowledge. Having researched the issue for over 10 years now, I am fully confident, without a shadow of doubt, that we should all be following the local/regional Moon Sighting criteria. It is my religious obligation to share this info with you.
Therefore, please try your utmost best to celebrate ‘Eid next Thursday, 29th June. At the same time, my very humble request is, please do not split your immediate family over this issue. Explain to them nicely and if there is no consensus, then please remain with the criteria you are following at the moment.
My intention is not to create family rifts. Please bear this in mind. For those who will celebrate on Thursday, provisions are being made for 2 or even 3 ‘Eid Ṣalāhs. The venues and times will be announced very shortly, اِنْ شَاءَ الَّلهُ.
Finally, I was following Saudi Arabia, for 37 years. Last ‘Eid ul-Fiṭr, the sighting claim was just not acceptable. Hence I changed. Last Sunday, 4 British citizens from the UK, were present at the location in Saudi Arabia, from where the Moon Sighting news was taken. From a crowd of 40, only 2 people claimed that they saw the moon.
The remaining 38 couldn’t see a thing. This incident, in the presence of our 4 British citizens, adds to the mounting evidence against the reliability of Saudi sighting reports. There is no need to follow your local Masjid anymore.
May The Almighty guide us all to observe ‘Eid ul-Aḍḥā on the correct day, Āmeen.
Please circulate widely. Look out for Thursday’s ‘Eid Jamā’ah times.
جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا
Request for Du’ās
وَالسَّلَامُ Hanif Dudhwala