Dubai, Nov 25: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen all declared that today is first day of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, according to statements carried by official news agencies and television stations of the Gulf countries. "It has been established according to Sharia (Islamic law) the citing of the new moon of Shawal this evening Monday. And thus tomorrow Tuesday is the first day of the blessed Eid al-Fitr," said the Saudi official news agency SPA in a statement by the royal court yesterday.
In a message, Saudi King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz congratulated their citizens on the Eid but urged them to condemn violence and terror.
For the world's one billion Muslims, the sighting of the new moon marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, when people fast from dawn until dusk.
In the lunar Muslim calendar, each month begins with the citing of the new moon, depending on when and where the new crescent is visible.
Bureau Report