Eid al-Fitr is almost upon us as Ramadan comes to an end. People across the world are eagerly awaiting the news that the Shawwal moon, which marks the end of the religious holiday, has been spotted. Eid al-Fitr traditionally begins the day after the sighting of the new crescent moon.
Eid al-Fitr will then commence, marking the completion of the Ramadan fast. During the celebration, worshippers gather together to commemorate the end of the fast. Like Ramadan, the date it commences is marked by the sighting of the moon. This tells the world whether Ramadan must go on for another day and whether Eid al-Fitr can begin. As a result, the moon's first appearance can be spotted at different times depending on where you are in the world.
Because of this, it's currently unclear when Eid al-Fitr will begin. It is likely to be on Sunday, May 1, or Monday, May 2 but in some countries, such as Pakistan, it could be a day after that, on May 3. There is some debate as to whether the idea of a moon sighting should refer to you physically witnessing the moon in your region, which could be hampered by factors such as weather conditions, or whether to defer to sightings in Saudi Arabia or other regions.
