When is Eid al-Adha 2024? Will the Arab countries agree on its date this year?

2024-06-02 2024-06-02T14:07:40Z

Weather of Arabia - Weeks ago, the Arab countries began the month of Dhul-Qi'dah for the Hijri year 1445, but there seems to be a difference in determining its beginning, and the majority of Arab countries began the month of Dhul-Qi'dah on the ninth of May, while countries such as Morocco announced the beginning of Dhul-Qi'dah on the tenth of May. May, due to the non-confirmed sighting of the crescent moon, according to a statement by the Moroccan Ministry of Endowments.

To know the astronomical date of Eid al-Adha and the holidays, click on the following link:

When is Eid al-Adha 2024 and the remaining holidays of the year in Arab countries?

How can we know the date of Eid al-Adha astronomically?

Answer: Determining the beginning of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, which determines the date of Eid al-Adha for this year, depends on the position of the moon in the sky after sunset on the day of sighting. To understand this, the moon’s rotation around the Earth can be observed by observing its position in the sky every day at the same time, as it appears. The moon seems to move away from the sun every day after sunset.

In theory, if we could repeat time day after day, the moon would return to stand next to the sun, which is the moment of central conjunction in astronomy. This moment is not seen with the naked eye, but it can be calculated very precisely astronomically. After conjunction, the moon begins to move away from the sun gradually until it can be seen. Whether with the naked eye or using telescopes.

In Islamic law, specialists from the legal bodies go out to search for the crescent of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah after sunset on the day of sighting, which is the twenty-ninth of Dhu al-Qa`dah. If they are able to spot it, the next day is the beginning of the new month, and if they are unable to do so, then the next day. Complete.

Visibility standards vary from one country to another; Some countries rely on seeing with the naked eye, others use telescopes, while a third group relies on astronomical calculations only, and each of these interpretations is justified by the texts of the true Islamic religion.

Can the crescent of Dhu al-Hijjah be seen in 2024?

Answer: In the case of this year's month of Dhu al-Hijjah, the moment of central conjunction will be on Thursday , June 6, 2024 at 12:38 UTC, leaving the crescent moon a short time before sunset.

According to the International Astronomy Center, seeing the crescent will not be possible with the naked eye or optical telescopes, despite the moon setting after sunset and the surface conjunction occurring before sunset, due to the lack of illumination of the crescent or its proximity to the horizon.

These results are consistent with the measurement of mathematician Robert Harry van Gent from the Dutch University of Utrecht, as his calculations using the Yallop algorithm indicate that seeing the crescent moon when it is close to the sun to this degree is not possible.

Will the Arab countries agree on the date of Eid al-Adha this year?

The answer: Since determining the beginning of the Hijri months depends mainly on Sharia law, and the role of astronomy is to provide accurate data to specialists without making a decision on the start date of the Hijri months, these data do not confirm the start date of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah this year.

However, disagreement may arise between some Arab countries; In countries that declare June 6 to be the last day of Dhul-Qi’dah, June 7 will be the beginning of Dhu al-Hijjah, and Eid al-Adha will begin on Sunday, June 16.

As for the countries that acknowledge that the sighting of the crescent has not been proven, Eid al-Adha will begin on June 17. For countries that started the month of Dhu al-Qi’dah late, such as Morocco, things will be easier, as their sighting day will be on June 7, which allows the moon to A longer time for the movement, and specialists in Sharia bodies will be able to see it more easily, making June 8 the beginning of Dhu al-Hijjah, and Eid al-Adha will almost certainly be on June 17.