Muslims are gearing up for the second major celebration of the year, Eid al-Adha, following the earlier Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan.
Also known as Qurbani Eid or Eid al-Kabir or the ‘festival of the sacrifice’, this event holds a different significance compared to the first Eid.
The burning question on people’s minds is the exact date of the festival, and moonsighting experts have stepped in to provide guidance on when we can anticipate Eid al-Adha in 2025.
Unlike Eid al-Fitr, which marks the beginning of Shawwal, the month following Ramadan, Eid al-Adha commences on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar.
Therefore, the moon sighting that determines the date of the upcoming Eid will occur 10 days prior, reports Birmingham Live.
Traditionally, the search for the crescent begins on the 29th day of the current month of Dhul Qadah, which falls on May 27. The new moon will emerge just after 4am on this day.
Given that the crescent will barely have begun to form around the moon’s edge, sightings might prove challenging that evening, though not entirely out of the question.
Astronomers suggest that observers may be able to spot the crescent in Saudi Arabia on May 27 with the aid of telescopes.
Ideal viewing conditions, featuring clear, cloudless skies, will be necessary in the UK or Morocco to see the moon on that day, but it should be easily visible the following day, on May 28.
Based on current predictions, the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah is expected to commence on 29 May 2025. This would place Eid al-Adha, which falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, on Saturday, 7 June.
The festivities typically span three to four days.
Given that Islamic days are observed from sunset to sunset, Eid al-Adha would begin on the evening of Friday, 6 June, and continue until 8 or 9 June.
However, as always, the exact dates will depend on moon sighting reports and announcements closer to the time, and there may be a discrepancy of a day or so in different countries.
Some UK mosques and organisations follow Saudi declarations, while others rely on local moonsighting.
Eid al-Adha commemorates the faith and devotion demonstrated by Prophet Ibraham (Abraham) when he was asked to sacrifice his son to God.
As he prepared to obey, he was rewarded with a ram to sacrifice instead.
Devotees fund the ritual slaughter of an animal and arrange to distribute the meat among the poor and needy who would otherwise be unable to partake in the event.
This ritual sacrifice, known as Qurbani, traditionally involves a goat, sheep, cow or camel.
Nowadays, Qurbani is often performed through online donations to charities, which use the funds to feed vulnerable and disadvantaged communities worldwide.
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