Large parts parts of the Muslim world marked the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and ushered in the holiday of Eid al-Fitr today.
Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest shrines, and other Sunni Muslim countries including the United Arab Emirates and Jordan begin their celebrations today while some other nations including Pakistan will celebrate Eidul Fitr on Saturday.
‘Friday is the first day of Eid al-Fitr for this year,’ with Thursday the last day of the holiday month of Ramadan, Saudi Arabia’s royal court said.
The timing of Eid al-Fitr is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon, in accordance with the Muslim lunar calendar. But Muslim religious authorities tend to disagree on the sighting of the moon, meaning Eid can be begin on different days in different countries.
Ramadan sees worshippers fasting daily from dawn to sunset, ending with the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which is normally celebrated with family gatherings.
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan and Sudan also announced Eid al-Fitr will start on Friday.
JERUSALEM: Palestinians attend Eid al-Fitr holiday celebrations by the Dome of the Rock shrine in the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City, on Friday.
EGYPT: People attend an Eid al-Fitr prayer, marking the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan at a public park, outside El-Seddik Mosque in Cairo on Friday.
INDONESIA: Indonesian Muslims gather to perform Eid al-Fitr prayer in Depok, West Java, Indonesia on Friday.
TURKEY: Muslims perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer at the Suleymaniye Mosque during the first day of the Eid al-Fitr holiday in Istanbul on Friday.
KUWAIT: Muslims gather to perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer outside during the first day of the Eid al-Fitr holiday in Hawally, Kuwait on Friday.
