Photo used for illustrative purpose.

This year, Ramadan did not begin on the same date in all countries. Some countries started on Monday (March 11, 2024), where the moon-sighting for Shawwal will be conducted on Monday (April 8).

Other countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Oman, Jordan, Libya and Morocco, started on Tuesday (March 12), and these countries will seek the crescent moon on Tuesday (April 9), corresponding to the twenty-ninth day of Ramadan.

Engineer Mohammed Shawkat Odeh, Director of the International Astronomical Centre (IAC), explained that the crescent cannot be seen on Monday (April 8), in countries that will try to sight it due to the moon setting before the sun and the conjunction occurring after sunset. Therefore, these countries will complete the month of Ramadan for thirty days, making Wednesday (April 10), Eid Al Fitr for them.

He added that the crescent moon can be sighted on Tuesday (April 9) from certain regions. It is visible using a telescope from the eastern part of the world and South Africa, and with some difficulty using the naked eye from Central Asia and the central African continent. However, it is relatively easy to see from West Asia, North Africa, most of Europe and most of the American continents with naked eye.

Eid Al Fitr will be celebrated on April 10 in most of the countries as the sighting of the crescent moon is expected to be announced on that day. However, in India and Bangladesh, Eid Al Fitr may be celebrated on April 11 as the crescent moon sighting may be declared unconfirmed on Tuesday.