Birmingham Mosque Planning Eid Al-Adha Celebrations
Eid al-Adha will be announced following a moon sighting to decide the start of Dhul Hijjah, the month in which the festivities take place.
When the date is known, Eid celebrations will be confirmed. Green Lane Masjid and Community Center's Eid in the Park festivities include prayers attended by thousands of people along with a funfair.
GLMCC says it is now planning for this year's Eid al-Adha event. The mosque issued a series of guidelines to its worshippers who will be invited to attend a huge gathering in Small Heath Park.
It said: "Eid is on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah. It is expected to fall on June 28, based on the estimated start of the month (which is dependent on the sighting of the new crescent moon).
"We will make a formal announcement on the afternoon of Monday, June 19, when it will be known if the moon has been sighted and whether the month has commenced. If the moon is sighted, Eid will be on Wednesday, June 28 (the 10th day of the month). If it is not sighted, Eid will be celebrated on Thursday, June 29."
GLMCC bases its dates on the declarations from Saudi Arabia. The mosque's chief executive Kamran Hussain said: "They will be searching for the moon on Sunday, which will be the 29th day of the current Islamic month of Dhul Qadah. The Islamic day runs from maghrib - the prayer time just before sunset - as opposed to the Gregorian calendar when it starts at midnight.
"Therefore, if the moon is spotted on the evening of Sunday, it means that the current month of Dhul Qadah finishes at 29 days and the new month of Dhul Hijjah has started from that evening/maghrib, meaning that the first day will be on Monday.
"If the new crescent moon is not spotted on Sunday evening, the current month of Dhul Qadah will be 30 days - continuing into Monday - and the new month of Dhul Hijjah will start on the evening/maghrib of Monday and the first day will be on Tuesday."
Source: birminghammail.co.uk
