When is Eid: Date, time of moon sighting in Saudi, UAE & Pakistan

The Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court has called on all Muslims to spot the crescent moon on Thursday to mark the beginning of Eid Al Fitr 2023.

"The Supreme Court called on whoever sights the crescent moon by naked eyes or through binoculars to report to the nearest court and register their testimony," the Saudi Press Agency reported.

This marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal. The sighting of the moon for the month of Shawwal holds a great significance for Muslims as it determines the date of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The Supreme Court expressed hope that "those who are capable of sighting the crescent moon will join committees formed for that purpose in different regions and participate in such efforts that benefit Muslims."

Similarly, the UAE Moon sighting committee also called on all Muslims to sight the crescent Moon on Thursday night.

"The moon-sighting committee has invited all Muslims in the UAE to sight the crescent of the month of Shawwal on Thursday evening, 29th Ramadan, 1444 H, which corresponds to 20th April, 2023," the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

Eid Al Fitr 2023 will be celebrated on Friday if the Moon is spotted on Thursday night.

Saudi Arabia and UAE have already declared a four-day weekend on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr.

The International Astronomy Centre On Sunday said that Eid Al Fitr could fall on Saturday, April 22, based on moon sighting.

"The countries of the Islamic world will investigate the crescent of the month of Shawwal (Eid al Fitr 1444 AH) on Thursday, April 20, 2023 AD. Seeing the crescent on Thursday is not possible with the naked eye from anywhere in the Arab and Islamic world," the International Astronomy Centre tweeted.

In Pakistan, the government has declared a five-day holiday (April 21-25) on the occasion of Eid.

Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will reportedly meet on April 20 in Islamabad to spot the crescent moon. However, the Ruet-i-Hilal Research Council claimed that Eid is most likely to fall on April 22.