GCC to celebrate Eid al Adha on September 12

Riyadh/Manama : The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia after a meeting to analyse the moon reports on Thursday corresponding to 29th of Dhulka'edah 1437 AH announced that Eid al Adha this year will be celebrated on September 12 whereas Youm-ul-Hajj i.e. Arafat Day will be on September 11.

"Since no response incoming to it from the courts and committees across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in this regard, the Supreme Court decided that today, on Friday which is the 2nd of the month of September 2016 supplements the month of Dhu-AlQa'dah and that tomorrow, on Saturday, the 3rd of September 2016 will be the start of the lunar month of Dhu al-Hijjah of 1437H", the Saudi Supreme Court said in a statement.

"In its decision, the Supreme Court set Sunday, the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah 1437H, corresponding to September 11th, 2016 as the standing on Arafat Mount and that Eid Al-Adha will be on Monday, the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, 1437H corresponding to the 12th of September, 2016", the statement added.

The Saudi Royal Court began the all important meeting after Maghrib prayers on Thursday corresponding to 29th of Dhulka'edah 1437 AH, sources said.

The Saudi Supreme Court had earlier announced that it will meet today after Maghrib prayers to analyse the moon report and then decide when Eid al Adha will be celebrated and Haj will be performed this year.

Similarly, moon sighting committees in the UAE, Kuwait and other Arab states held meetings after Maghrib prayers today to ascertain on the moon sighting reports. Though no official announcement has been made by them so far it is most likely that they will also follow Saudi Arabia and celebrate Eid al Adha on September 12.

Muslims in the United States, United Kingdom and other Euripean countries rely on the moon sighting report of Saudi Arabia. As per this tradition, the Fiqh Council of North America, United States has said it will follow the Eid date announced by the authorities in Makkah, and so will the European Council of Fatwa and Research.

Elsewhere in the world, clerics and muftis in Singapore on Thursday announced that the Dhul Hijjah (also pronounced Zul Hijja) crescent has not been sighted and hence they declared that Friday will be the 30th day of Dhulka'edah 1437 AH.

The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia and the moon sighting committees in UAE and other Arab states had earlier called upon the Muslims to witness Crescent - the new moon of the Holy month of Dhul Hijjah (also pronounced Zul Hijja), on Thursday corresponding to 29th of Dhulka'edah 1437 AH to decide when Eid al Adha will be celebrated this year.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Supreme Court had on Wednesday asked whoever sees the crescent moon by the naked eyes or binoculars “to report to the nearest court and register his testimony” or report to the nearest center that can help him reach the nearest court.

Traditionally, the festival lasts for four days but public holidays vary from country to country.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced that Turkey will observe a nine-day public holiday for Eid, known in Turkey as Qurban Bayram, from Saturday, September 10 until Sunday, September 19.

As in Eid al-Fitr 2016, the UAE, Kuwait, Pakistan and Bangladesh are also likely to observe a nine-day public holiday over the same dates as Turkey. In India and the Philippines, Eid al Adha is declared a public holiday.

Haj and Eid al Adha are celebrated to commemorate the sacrifices made by Prophet Ibrahim, Prophet Ismael and his mother Hager (peace be upon all of them).