Astronomical Calculations Indicate Eid Will Be on Monday, Maumoon Speculates
Photo: Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s X account
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom speculated today that astronomical calculations indicate the moon will not be visible in the Maldives tonight, making tomorrow the 30th of Ramadan.
As per religious custom, the crescent moon sighting is required for the new month to be declared in Islam, which is when Ramadan will end and Shawwal will begin, prompting Fitr Eid celebrations.
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In a post on X, Maumoon explained that the sun and the moon would set simultaneously this evening, preventing the moon from appearing on the horizon after sunset.
ބަރާބަރު ފަލަކީހިސާބުން ދައްކާގޮތުގައި މިރޭ ރާއްޖެއަށް އިރާއިހަނދު އޮއްސެނީ އެއްވަގުތެއްގައެވެ. 18ގަޑި 14 މިނެޓުގައެވެ. ވީމާ އިރު އޮއްސުމަށްފަހު އުދަރެހުގައި ހަނދެއް ނުހުންނާނެއެވެ. އަދި މާދަމާވާނީ ރަމަޟާން ތިރީހަށެވެ. އެހެންނަމަވެސް އިސްލާމީ އެހެންޤައުމަކަށް…— Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (@maumoonagayoom) March 29, 2025
“Therefore, after the sun sets, the moon will not be visible on the horizon,” Maumoon said in Dhivehi.
However, he noted that if other Islamic countries sight the moon tonight, and if Maldives declares Eid accordingly, Eid will be celebrated tomorrow instead of on Monday.
In an earlier post on X, Maumoon emphasised that the moon does not need to be visible to the naked eye for the next month to begin. He stated that a new Hijri month begins if calculations confirm the moon’s absence, even if it remains unseen for only a brief period after sunset.
For the Maldives, the sun and the moon are expected to set at 6:14 p.m. today.
