With no moon sighting, Eid’l Fitr now falls on April 22
MANILA, Philippines — Muslims in the country will now hold Eid’l Fitr on Saturday, April 22, as the crescent moon was not sighted to signal the end of the holy month of Ramadan, said the Bangsamoro Darul – Ifta in the Philippines on Thursday.
Eid’l Fitr, or the Feast of Breaking the Fast, marks the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal.
Shiek Abuhuraira Udasan, the Grand Mufti of the Bangsamoro region, said Thursday that moon sighting teams have been deployed to several key locations, but the crescent moon was not seen, “signifying that Eid’l Fitr will be on Saturday.”
The National Commission of Muslim Filipinos said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration had also reported no sighting of the moon.
“As such, it hereby officially declared that the observance of Eid’l Fitr will be on Saturday, April 22, 2023,” it announced.
Upon the recommendation of the National Commission of Muslim Filipinos, Malacañang declared Friday, April 21, a regular holiday across the country in observance of Eid’l Fitr.
Proclamation 201, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, said this is “in order to bring the religious and cultural significance of the Eid’l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness and to allow the entire Filipino nation to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in peace and harmony in the observance of Eid’l Fitr.”
READ: April 21 is a regular holiday in observance of Eid’l Fitr – Palace
