The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has determined that tomorrow will be the 30th day of the month of Ramadan and that Eid al-Fitr will fall on Friday.
In the statement read by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs regarding the sighting of the moon, it stated that since the moon has not been sighted in any region of the Maldives according to Sharia principles, and since no official information has been received regarding the sighting of the moon in any Islamic country, it has been determined that tomorrow is the 30th day of Ramadan in accordance with the established practice in the Maldives for determining the moon for the months of Ramadan and Shawwal.
The Ministry said that in addition to the Shawwal moon not being visible to the Maldives and other Islamic countries today, reliable astronomical calculations also do not show that the moon will remain above the horizon at sunset today.
A lunar month is considered to have begun if the new moon seen and remains above the horizon for even a brief moment after sunset on that day. Astronomical calculations do not show that such an opportunity existed for the Maldives or other Islamic countries today. Countries that, along with the Maldives, began fasting on the 18th of last February, looked for the Shawwal moon upon sunset today.
According to calculations, the Shawwal moon will be seen in the Maldives at 6:23 AM tomorrow. That moon will set at 18:34, 15 minutes after sunset.
For Mecca, the Shawwal moon will be born at 4:23 AM tonight. That moon will set at 19:01, exactly half an hour after the sun sets at 18:31 on that day. Therefore, Saudi Arabia has also determined that the moon was not sighted and decreed that tomorrow is the 30th of Ramadan.
Turkey, which determines the date by relying on astronomical calculations rather than physical moon sightings, also determined today that Eid will be on Friday for that country as well.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has stated that Eid prayers will be performed in large congregations at four locations in the Malé area on Friday. Eid prayers will begin at 7:00 AM.
