Saudi Arabia has sighted the crescent moon and announced the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which signals the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
The official Saudi Press Agency cited a royal court statement on its Twitter account, stating that Friday is the first day of Eid al-Fitr for this year, with Thursday being the last day of Ramadan.
“Tomorrow, Friday, is the first day of Eid al-Fitr for this year,” the statement reads.
The timing of Eid al-Fitr is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon according to the Muslim lunar calendar. Typically, the holiday is celebrated with family gatherings.
Ramadan, a month of daytime fasting, is one of the five pillars of Islam, during which observant Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk. It is also a time of prayer, with the faithful gathering in large numbers at mosques, particularly at night.
Fasting is widely practiced in Saudi Arabia, which is home to the holiest shrines in Islam in Mecca and Medina. For Eid al-Fitr, Saudis are expected to observe a four-day holiday.
