In the Islamic calendar, a month is either 29 days or 30 days. For the month of Ramadan to end, it is mandatory to see the moon of the month of Shawwal. If the moon is not visible on the evening of 29th Ramzan, then it is believed that the month of Ramzan has not yet been completed and fasting will be observed on the next day i.e. 30th day also.

According to religious beliefs and scientific calculations, the sighting of the moon depends on the geographical location and weather. When the sky is not clear or the moon is small then it is not visible. In such a situation, under the rule of ‘Itmaal’ i.e. completing the month, Ramadan is reduced to 30 days and Eid is celebrated on the next day.

What happens when the moon is not visible?

According to Islamic Shariat, the determination of months depends on ‘Ruyat-e-Hilal’ i.e. sighting of the moon. This rule is based on the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammad, in which it has been instructed to keep fast after seeing the moon and celebrate Eid only after seeing the moon.

29 or 30 day math: According to astronomical calculations, the Moon takes approximately 29.5 days to complete one revolution around the Earth. For this reason, Islamic months sometimes have 29 days and sometimes 30. If the new moon is visible in the sky on the evening of the 29th, the new month begins. If the moon is not visible due to clouds or other reasons, the current month is considered to be 30 days long.

Sharia rule: According to Islamic law (Sharia), testimony or direct vision is necessary for worship. If the moon is not seen on 29 Ramadan, it is believed that the moon has not yet reached a position from which it can be visible. Therefore, it becomes mandatory to complete the 30 fasts of Ramadan.

Different times around the world: Since the time of moon sighting depends on the geographical location, there is often a difference of one day between the beginning of Ramadan and the date of Eid in different parts of the world.

Change in the date of Eid: Not seeing the moon simply means that the month of Shawwal has not started. Therefore Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated on the day after that instead of the next day.

Taraweeh Namaz: If the moon is not sighted on the evening of the 29th fast, special ‘Taraweeh’ prayers are offered in mosques that night, as it is still a part of Ramadan.

Note: The things written in this news are based on religious and local beliefs. We do not confirm this.