Eid al Adha on June 17 as moon not sighted in Oman

STAFF REPORTER

MUSCAT, JUNE 6

The moonsighting committee of the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs announced that the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah 1445 AH was not sighted on Thursday. Hence, Friday, June 7, will be Dhul Qa’ada 30, and Monday, June 17, will be the first day of Eid al Adha.

A statement to this effect was issued by the moonsighting committee at the end of its meeting.

On this occasion, it congratulated and greeted His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, praying to the Almighty Allah to grant him good health, happiness and a long life, and progress and prosperity for the Omani people and all Muslim countries.

"The main committee for determining the new moon met, headed by Dr Mohammed bin Said al Maamari, Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs. The members of the committee included Dr Kahlan bin Nabhan al Kharousi, Assistant Grand Mufti of the Sultanate of Oman, Eng Khalid bin Hilal al Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Ahmed bin Saleh al Rashdi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, Mohammed bin Salem al Akhzami, judge at the Supreme Court, Abdulrahman bin Abdulsattar al Kamali, judge at the Supreme Court, and Mohammed bin Salem al Nahdi, judge at the Supreme Court, in order to receive reports about the sighting of the crescent moon to determine the beginning of the month of Dhul Hijjah for this year 1445 AH," the statement said.

"Accordingly, the committee did not receive any reports about the sighting of the crescent moon, hence Friday, June 7, will be Dhul Qa’ada 30, and Monday, June 17, will be the first day of Eid al Adha," it added.

However, Saudi Arabia announced the sighting of Dhul Hijjah crescent, signaling the beginning of Dhul Hijjah.

With the crescent’s sighting, Eid al Adha will be observed on June 16. Arafat Day, which precedes the major Muslim holiday, will fall a day prior on June 15. Astronomers from both the Sultanate of Oman and Saudi Arabia had predicted that Arafat Day was likely to fall on Saturday (June 15) making June 16 the first day of Eid al Adha this year.

Dr Khaled Zaaq, a Saudi researcher, had said as per astronomical calculations, Friday (June 7) would be the first day of Dhul Hijjah, hence the first day of Eid will be on Sunday (June 16). His prediction was endorsed by Abdulwahab al Busaidy, head of the observatory at the Oman Astronomical Society, whose predictions in Oman have turned out to be correct during the past 30 years.