Discrepancies in Crescent Moon Sightings Lead to Different Dates for Eid Celebrations
SINGAPORE: On Sunday, May 1, the Mufti of Singapore, Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) announced that Singapore would celebrate the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri on Tuesday, May 3. This decision left many Muslims in the country confused, especially since neighbouring countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei had announced that they would celebrate on Monday, May 2, a full 24 hours earlier.
Many in the Muslim community, as well as some outside, questioned why Singapore was observing Hari Raya a day later, given the countries in the region share similar time zones.
In response, MUIS issued a detailed statement explaining the reasoning behind the different dates, which stemmed from the visibility of the crescent moon that marks the beginning of the Islamic month of Syawal and the end of Ramadan.
The Importance of the Crescent Moon
MUIS explained that, according to the guidance of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.), the start of the Islamic month is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon. If the moon is not visible, Muslims are required to complete 30 days of fasting before celebrating Hari Raya. This practice is rooted in the traditions of the Prophet, who advised that fasting and the celebration of Eid should not take place until the crescent moon is sighted, or until 30 days of fasting have passed.
Challenges in Sighting the Crescent Moon
In Singapore, MUIS highlighted that the crescent moon is often difficult to see due to the country’s typically cloudy weather. As a result, Singapore adheres to the “imkan ar-rukya” method used by MABIMS countries (Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and Singapore), which relies on two key criteria: the moon’s elevation, which must exceed 3 degrees, and the degree of elongation between the sun and the moon, which must exceed 6.4 degrees. Despite these criteria, the crescent moon was not visible in Singapore on Sunday, May 1, the 29th day of Ramadan.
Crescent Moon Not Visible in Singapore
MUIS further explained that despite efforts to sight the moon with the help of experts, the new moon was not visible at sunset on May 1, as the western horizon was obscured by clouds. Authorities in the other MABIMS countries reported that the moon was sighted in certain areas of their territories, but the sightings varied across locations. Each country’s decision to celebrate on different dates was valid based on their respective moon sightings, and all countries observed that Ramadan did not exceed 30 days.
A History of Discrepancies
MUIS noted that such discrepancies in the start of the Islamic month are not uncommon and have occurred in previous years, including in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2021. This highlights that different countries, even those with similar time zones, may observe Ramadan and Hari Raya on different dates based on local moon sightings.
Conclusion and Reassurance
MUIS concluded that differences in the determination of the Islamic calendar should not be seen as alarming, as they are part of the faith’s principles. For the Singapore Muslim community, Ramadan in 2022 will last for 30 days, with Hari Raya Aidilfitri falling on Tuesday, May 3, and the community is encouraged to continue fasting on May 2 to complete the full 30 days.
