As the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, Muslims across the Gambia are now waiting to hear news of the date of Eid ul Fitr.

Eid marks the end of Ramadan and the start of the new month of Shawwal. But when will it be? Here’s the latest on the moon sighting. 

The Gambia in recent years has been following Saudi Arabia’s lead in the sighting of the moon. 

The meeting regarding the Eid moon sighting in Saudi Arabia is scheduled today (May 11).

The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has asked people to look for the new moon on the evening of Tuesday, May 11, which is the 29th day of Ramadan.

Under Islamic customs, people look for the moon on the 29th day of any month. If it’s seen, that month comes to an end; if not, the month goes on for another day and lasts a full 30 days.

Anyone in Saudi Arabia who sights the crescent with the naked eye or through binoculars is being asked to report it to officials.

However, it is expected that Eid ul Fitr in Saudi Arabia will be on May 13 (Thursday).

Lunar charts indicate it won’t be possible to see the moon on May 11.

UK astronomers at HM Nautical Almanac Office, a Government agency, said no sightings were possible anywhere in the world on that date.

But it said stargazers should be able to see the moon on May 12 from parts of the Middle East including Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Arabian Peninsula, using a telescope. It will also be possible to see the moon with the naked eye in much of Africa and the USA.

The almanac office says sightings will be possible in Mecca as well as in Rabat, Morocco.

That would indicate Eid (and the month of Shawwal) is likely to start the following day – Thursday, May 13 – which is in accordance with Saudi Arabia’s Umm al-Qura Calendar of calculated dates.

The moon will be easily visible to the naked eye across the world – including The Gambia – on the next evening, May 13.