After a month of fasting, some Australian Muslims have begun celebrating one of the biggest religious events of the year - a day before others.
And it all depends on the moon.
Some Muslims have already kicked off the celebrations for Eid al-Fitr, but others are waiting until a day later.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan when Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset every day for a month.
The end of Ramadan is marked by big celebrations with family, lots of feasting and gift-giving.
It’s also a day when Muslims are not generally permitted to fast.
But unlike Christmas which is determined on a set date every year, the date of Eid differs yearly, and it’s all dependent on the sighting of the moon.
In Australia, some Muslims began celebrating Eid on Tuesday.
A view of crescent moon near Jama Masjid Minaret on the occasion of Eid al-fitr Photo by Sanchit Khanna/Hindustan Times) Source: Hindustan Times
That’s because Turkey has declared Eid on Tuesday and some Turkish mosques in Australia, for example, Sydney’s Auburn Gallipoli mosque and Victoria’s Sunshine mosque, are following that guidance.
But some Muslims are continuing to fast for another day and waiting until Wednesday for Eid.
They’re following the advice of peak Islamic bodies in Australia, such the Lebanese Muslim Association and the Australian National Imams Council, which have declared Eid on Wednesday.
Bilal Rauf, from the Imams Council, said this date gives certainty to Muslims in Australia for example in order to seek a day off from work to celebrate, or for councils to close off roads for large mosque gatherings where people pray, as occurs for Lakemba mosque in Sydney.
“Whereas certain dates like Christmas might be set there is some variability with the celebrating of Eid because it’s based on the lunar calendar,” he told SBS News.
Muslim women at a prayer service at a mosque in Redmond, Washington, to mark the end of Ramadan and the start of Eid-al-Fitr in 2016. Source: AP Photo/Ted S. Warren
“There are some differences in view as to whether that lunar calendar commences on the birth of the moon or sometime after the moon has been born or whether it’s determined to go by calculations or physical sighting (of the moon).
“Now this obviously creates an element of uncertainty about it and it does create some logistical difficulties but that’s precisely why the Imams Council has taken an approach where it declares in advance the date of Eid and that give people certainty - which is important in Australia so that we can take time off and we know the day which we will be celebrating and attending the mosque to pray.”
Which countries celebrate Eid when?
Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE - Tuesday
Indonesia, Malaysia - Wednesday
Canada - Tuesday
Australia - officially Wednesday but some are celebrating Tuesday
