Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is preparing for the sighting of the Shawwal moon, which will determine the official date for Eid ul Fitr 2025, marking the end of Ramadan 1446 Hijri.
Astronomers have predicted that the crescent moon may be visible on Saturday, March 29, 2025 (Ramadan 29, 1446), which would mean that Eid ul Fitr will be celebrated on Sunday, March 30.
Based on these calculations, there is a possibility of moon sighting on Saturday evening, which would mark the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid ul Fitr the next day.
The celebration begins with the special Eid prayer, followed by festive meals, giving charity (Zakat al-Fitr), and visiting relatives and friends.
Scientific Predictions on Shawwal Moon Visibility
According to Suparco, the moon’s age at sunset in Makkah will be just five hours, making it extremely difficult to sight with the naked eye. Typically, a new crescent moon needs to be at least 18 to 24 hours old for visibility.
Despite conflicting scientific predictions, the Saudi Supreme Court has officially urged Muslims to attempt to sight the Shawwal moon on the evening of March 29.
The court has encouraged anyone who spots the crescent—either with the naked eye or through binoculars—to report their observations to the nearest court and provide their testimony.
Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which follows a fixed solar cycle, Islamic months are based on the sighting of the new crescent moon, which can vary due to atmospheric and geographical conditions.
Saudi Arabia follows a combination of astronomical calculations and actual moon sighting reports to announce the beginning of Eid and other significant Islamic events.
As the Kingdom awaits the official moon sighting confirmation, millions of Muslims are preparing for Eid celebrations, which will depend on the Supreme Court’s announcement.
