Eid-ul-Adha: Saudi asks Muslims to look for crescent on Sunday

Saudi Arabia has urged Muslims to look for the appearance of the crescent moon of Dhul-Hijjah 1444-2023 on Sunday evening, which corresponds to the 29th of Dhul Qa’dah. The Supreme Court of the Kingdom made this announcement, requesting individuals who spot the moon either with the naked eye or binoculars to report their observations to the nearest court or a designated center that can relay the information to the court.
If the 18th of June is determined to be the final day of Dhul Qa’dah, then Dhul-Hijjah will commence on the 19th of June. The duration of an Islamic month is either 29 or 30 days, depending on the sighting of the moon. If it completes a full 30 days, Dhul-Hijjah will begin on the 20th of June.
The sighting of the moon signifies the start of the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah, during which the Hajj pilgrimage is performed, followed by the celebration of Eid Al-Adha. Hajj is one of the largest religious gatherings globally and is considered an obligatory act of worship for every physically and financially capable Muslim to fulfill during their lifetime.
This year, the Hajj pilgrimage is expected to commence on the 26th of June. The Kingdom anticipates hosting approximately two million pilgrims during this season, marking the first time in recent years that the event will take place without any restrictions following intermittent closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.