Why are some Muslims celebrating Eid today? An Imam explains…

2026-03-20 - 19:45

Shastri Boodan Imam Shaykh Munaf Mohammed has explained why some Muslims have chosen to celebrate Eid on Friday and others on Saturday. Mohammed said wherever the moon is sighted first in the world indicates that Ramadan was over. He said, “We believe that as long as the crescent is being sighted, regardless of where it is sighted, that we will accept it as long as it is a reliable source, and we have confidence in it. However, there are some people who feel that they have to see it for themselves and this, hence the reason, many people will be observing their fast tomorrow, just simply because they did not see it for themselves. But we have the technology today, and information can instantaneously. You know, it was sighted, and we have accepted that, and that’s hence the reason we are celebrating Eid today, like many other Muslims, millions of Muslims throughout the world, they are celebrating Eid today.” Isa Mohammed, president of the Caribbean Institute of Astronomy, said because of the position of the moon relative to the sun, it becomes visible in some areas before it becomes visible in other areas. He said, “There are some countries that would be able to easily see the moon on a particular day, while other countries cannot see the moon on a particular day. But it is how the Islamic law is interpreted by the various groups. There’s also technology that could be used to see the moon, telescopes, cameras. But there are some groups that accept the use of telescope and cameras, and there are some groups that, for them, they would need to see it with their own eyes. So based on the differences of these various groups of Muslims, you would find many Muslims are celebrating Eid on one day, while others are celebrating Eid on the other day. And it has to do with whether the moon can be seen visibly with your eyes in your country on a particular day or not.”