• Al Ghamama Mosque is one of the oldest in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. SPA Twitter
    Al Ghamama Mosque is one of the oldest in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. SPA Twitter
  • The site of Al Ghamamah is believed to be where the Prophet Mohammed performed an Eid prayer. SPA Twitter
    The site of Al Ghamamah is believed to be where the Prophet Mohammed performed an Eid prayer. SPA Twitter
  • People break their fast at Quba Mosque, Madinah. SPA
    People break their fast at Quba Mosque, Madinah. SPA
  • Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah during the climax of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. AFP
    Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah during the climax of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. AFP
  • Saudi Arabia said it will permit one million Muslims from inside and outside the country to participate in this year's Hajj, after two years of restrictions enforced by the pandemic. AFP
    Saudi Arabia said it will permit one million Muslims from inside and outside the country to participate in this year's Hajj, after two years of restrictions enforced by the pandemic. AFP
  • Muslim pilgrims visit Quba Mosque. Getty Images
    Muslim pilgrims visit Quba Mosque. Getty Images
  • Masjid Al Haram in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, as seen from the International Space Station. Photo: Hazza Al Mansouri
    Masjid Al Haram in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, as seen from the International Space Station. Photo: Hazza Al Mansouri
  • Prayers at Masjid Al Nabawi in Madinah. Getty Images
    Prayers at Masjid Al Nabawi in Madinah. Getty Images
  • Muslim worshippers around the Kaaba, the holiest shrine in the Grand Mosque complex in Makkah. AFP
    Muslim worshippers around the Kaaba, the holiest shrine in the Grand Mosque complex in Makkah. AFP
  • Rising in the background is Al Shaf'i Mosque in the Old City of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. AP Photo
    Rising in the background is Al Shaf'i Mosque in the Old City of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. AP Photo
  • Saudi Arabians pose for a German tourist in front of Al Shaf'i Mosque. AP Photo
    Saudi Arabians pose for a German tourist in front of Al Shaf'i Mosque. AP Photo

Gulf

Eid 2022: Saudi Arabia urges Muslims to sight moon on Saturday night

Muslims are urged to report their sighting of the moon

Mariam Nihal

April 28, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has called on people living in the kingdom to sight the Shawwal crescent on Saturday night, the 29th night of Ramadan.

Those who spot the moon with their naked eye or using binoculars are urged to report it to the nearest court and register their testimony.

If the moon is observed over the kingdom on Saturday, Eid will begin the next day. If not, it will start on Monday.

Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Abdullatif Al Sheikh has called on authorities to prepare all mosques for Eid Al Fitr prayers.

He said they would be 15 minutes after sunrise.

This year, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that worshippers who wish to perform Eid Al Fitr prayer at the Grand Mosque in Makkah or the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah would not need a permit, nor would numbers be restricted as they have been in the past two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Updated: April 29, 2022, 4:16 AM
Saudi ArabiaRamadan 2026Eid Al Fitr 2025