CHICAGO — Last year at the end of Ramadan, Faiza Siddiqui — like millions of Muslims each year — was waiting intently for the moon sighting announcement determining if the next day will be Eid al-Fitr, the holiday after the month of fasting.
Siddiqui, a resident physician at the University of Chicago, refreshed her browser every few seconds as the window to call off work for the holiday dwindled. Finally, around 10 p.m. May 1, the announcement was made by Chicago Hilal, Crescent Watch and other moon-sighting organizations that the moon was spotted in California and other parts of the country, meaning Eid would be the next day.
But for Siddiqui, it was too late.
