When is Eid ul Fitr 2023 with moon-sighting forecasts…

When is Eid ul Fitr 2023 with moon-sighting forecasts for UK, Saudi Arabia, Morocco

This week marks the end of Ramadan and the start of Eid ul Fitr as millions of Muslims prepare for celebrations.

Eid al-Fitr 2023 celebrations are underway today (Friday, April 21) across the globe, after the new crescent moon was sighted in Saudi Arabia on Thursday evening. Not all Muslims in the UK follow the Saudi dates for Eid but this marked a significant announcement for many. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

When exactly Eid is celebrated depends on the sighting of the next crescent moon. This means that Muslims have to wait until the night before to find out the exact day celebrations can commence.

British astronomers who work for HM Nautical Almanac Office, a Government agency providing data for police, armed forces, diary manufacturers and others, have forecast the likelihood of seeing the moon. They have looked at the visibility for the crescent in the UK as well as in Morocco and Saudi Arabia, to predict the exact date of Eid ul Fitr this year, BirminghamLive reports.

Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Mecca is two hours ahead of UK time (BST).

Thursday, April 20 - moon not visible
Friday, April 21 - moon is easily visible with the naked eye. Sunset 6.42pm, moonset 8.05pm (local times)
Saturday, April 22 - moon is easily visible with the naked eye. Sunset 6.43pm, moonset 9.05pm (local times)

Rabat, Morocco

Morocco is the same as UK time (BST)

Thursday, April 20 - moon not visible
Friday, April 21 - moon is easily visible with the naked eye. Sunset 7.03pm, moonset 8.44pm (local times)
Saturday, April 22 - moon is easily visible with the naked eye. Sunset 7.04pm, moonset 9.50pm (local times)

Bristol, UK

Thursday, April 20 - moon not visible
Friday, April 21 - moon is easily visible with the naked eye. Sunset 8.16pm, moonset 10.23pm (local times)
Saturday, April 22 - moon is easily visible with the naked eye. Sunset 8.18pm, moonset 11.45pm (local times)

London, UK

Thursday, April 20 - moon not visible
Friday, April 21 - moon is easily visible with the naked eye. Sunset 8.07pm, moonset 10.11pm (local times)
Saturday, April 22 - moon is easily visible with the naked eye. Sunset 8.09pm, moonset 11.32pm (local times)

Timings elsewhere in the UK will be similar.

So when is Eid ul Fitr 2023?

For now, it seems the moon will be seen on Thursday, meaning Ramadan and its daily fasting will continue for one more day. As Islamic days run from sunset to sunset, Ramadan is therefore expected to technically come to an end on Friday evening. The first day of the next month, Shawwal, will then be on Saturday, April 22, and will see the start of the Eid ul Fitr festivities.

HM Almanac Office does add that although the moon may be visible from some corners of the world on Thursday, it won't be spotted in any of the key locations where Islamic date announcements are made. It said: "The instant of new moon takes place on Thursday, April 20 2023 at 04:13 Universal Time or 05:13 British Summer Time. No sightings with the naked eye are likely from the Middle East, North Africa and the United Kingdom in particular."

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