Advance Announcement for Eid al-Fitr in North America

Once the holy month of Ramadhan is over, the pious get ready to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, Feast of Fast-Breaking, to thank the Almighty who enabled them to fast and to remember the needy and the indigent.

What follows is the Advance Announcement for Eid al-Fitr in North America:

To all believers in North America, 

Peace be upon you, and may Almighty Allah accept your fasting and all your good deeds in this blessed month.

With respect to determining the day of Eid al-Fitr this year, based on the criteria for the visibility of the crescent, the Moon-Sighting Committee of the Council of Shia Muslim Scholars of North America would like to bring to your attention that there is a high likelihood that the Shawwal crescent will be seen with the naked eye in much of the continental United States and southern Canada.

Although the final determination will depend on actual sighting reports after sunset on Thursday, April 20 (29th of Ramadan), the following guidance is intended to help you prepare for Eid.

The visibility curve on Thursday night includes most of the United States and Canada, including Toronto. However, New York City, Boston, Ottawa, and Montreal are outside the visibility curve.

Based on this data, a reasonable prediction gives confidence that for most of the United States and southern Canada including Toronto, Eid will be on Friday, April 21 and for the above cities and areas to the north and east of them, Eid will be on Saturday, April 22 according to the Multiplicity of Horizons ruling. The final declaration about the cities excluded above, however, will depend on the location of the sighting.

Therefore, we advise people to make arrangements to take off from work, school, and other commitments on Friday so they can attend the Eid prayers.

Allah states in the Holy Quran, “… Cooperate in piety and Godwariness, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression, and be wary of Allah” [5:2]

On behalf of the Moon-Sighting Committee
Sayyid Mohammad Rizvi