UAE: Will total solar eclipse on April 8 affect Moon sighting for first day of Eid Al Fitr?

There will be a total solar eclipse on April 8 when the moon will cover the sun, casting a shadow on Earth. This spectacular celestial event will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The total solar eclipse will begin over the South Pacific Ocean.

How does that affect the Muslim world? The birth of the Shawwal crescent, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, will coincide with the solar eclipse on April 8, at 10.22pm UAE time, according to the Emirates Astronomical Association.

Shawwal is the 10th month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar and the first day is observed as Eid Al Fitr. The total solar eclipse will influence religious observance and the timing of Eid Al Fitr celebrations across the Islamic world.

Islamic months last either 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the crescent.

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The moon will be absent over the western horizon after sunset on April 8, and its birth before dawn will mean the possibility of seeing it after sunset the next day, April 9, in most parts of the Islamic world. This means that Wednesday, April 10, 2024, will mark the lunar birth, the first day of Shawwal, and the first day of Eid Al Fitr.

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