It is not the case that there are always two Eids. In 2022 mosques across the UK held Eid ul-Fitr on the same day.
The typical annual trend is that only one of the two sightings over Ramadan are disputed, not both. This means when all mosques start fasting on the same day, they usually end up differing over Eid-ul Fitr. When Muslims begin fasting on different days, usually Eid announcements subsequently turn out to be for the same day.
You may recall having discussions with friends on Eid whether they fasted 29 or 30 days. In other words, you finished Ramadan on the same day, but started it a day apart.
Same day Eids are special. Although, I do enjoy the complete absence of tension whenever Eid ul-Fitr is on the same day, it is a mistake to think that the differences over the moon sighting were set aside or that the imams had arrived at consensus, for that year.
Instead, what was experienced was when those taking a separate stance concluded their announcements for the same day. In other words, the announcements are down to coincidence rather than consensus or compromise.
Here are some UK examples to illustrate the point:
| 2015 | Different Start | Same Eid |
| 2018 | Same Start | Different Eid |
| 2019 | Different Start | Different Eid |
| 2020 | Same Start | Different Eid |
| 2021 | Different Start | Same Eid |
| 2022 | Different Start | Same Eid |
| 2023 | Same Start | Different Eid |
I am predicting for this year that Muslims will begin Ramadan on different days.
- The first day of fasting will begin either on Monday 11th March or Tuesday 12th March 2024.
- Eid will not be disputed and will be announced for Wednesday 10th April 2024 .
The events about to unfold are down to the will of Allah. Whether my prediction is right or wrong, this is entirely by the will of Allah.
Ramadan Mubarak to all.
For More
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ أُمِّ الدَّرْدَاءِ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِأَفْضَلَ مِنْ دَرَجَةِ الصِّيَامِ وَالصَّلاَةِ وَالصَّدَقَةِ ” . قَالُوا بَلَى . قَالَ ” إِصْلاَحُ ذَاتِ الْبَيْنِ وَفَسَادُ ذَاتِ الْبَيْنِ الْحَالِقَةُ .
Narrated by Abu Darda (RA):
The Prophet (SAW) said: “Shall I not inform you of something more excellent in degree than fasting, prayer and charity?” The people replied: “Yes, Prophet of Allah.” He (SAW) said: “It is putting things right between people; spoiling them is destructive (the shaver)”.
Abu Dawud
My post from 2022 not only explains why Muslims have disagreements over the sighting of the moon, it also proposes the solution, and the approach Muslims can take to avoid alienating each other.
To read the full article, select the link below:
Abdul’s World 