Eid al-Fitr 2020: What time will moon-sighting committee meet today?
EID begins at the sighting of the new moon, signalling the end of Ramadan and bringing in the new month of Shawwal.
So when will the moon-sighting committee meet today? Here's everything you need to know
When do the Shawwal moon sighting committee meet today?
The Shawwal moon sighting committee will meet this evening, May 22, in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Supreme Court will then issue an announcement that day regarding the sighting of the moon.
However, astronomers at the observatory of Majmaah University near Riyadh in Saudi Arabia have said they think its unlikely a moon will be sighted on Friday, May 22, according to Hindustan Times.
They also report the Saudi Supreme Court said: “Whoever sights the moon with naked eyes or through binoculars, report to the nearest court and register testimony, or report to an authority of a region’s centre in the area.”
How will the committee meet during lockdown?
The committee will meet remotely during lockdown.
Saudi Arabia have imposed an Eid lockdown, that will last between May 23 and May 27, according to al Alarbi Network.
Mosques won't open during that time and gatherings are banned.
What happens if they sight a crescent moon?
A crescent moon always falls the day before a new moon.
If a crescent moon is sighted, this signals the coming of a new moon and a new month.
It will mean Eid can begin the following day.
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What happens if they can't see a crescent moon?
If there is no crescent moon sighted, Eid is delayed until one is.
There is some debate about whether you should refer to seeing the moon with the naked eye in your region - which could be hampered by weather conditions or pollution, or whether it's dependent on what the committee in Saudia Arabia says.
Some areas prefer to use telescopes to sight the moon, such as Pakistan, while others will only call Ramadan if the new moon is spotted with the naked eye.