Saudi Arabia has officially declared that Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, will commence on Friday in the kingdom.
“Tomorrow, Friday, is the first day of Eid al-Fitr for this year,” with Thursday the last day of Ramadan, the official Saudi Press Agency said on its Twitter account citing a royal court statement.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the exact timing of Eid al-Fitr is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon, in accordance with the Muslim lunar calendar.
This occasion is usually celebrated with family gatherings and feasting, as Muslims conclude their month-long fast during Ramadan.
Ramadan, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a period when observant Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk. They traditionally gather with family and friends in the evening to break their fast. Additionally, it is a time of prayer, with believers congregating in large numbers at mosques, particularly at night.
Fasting is widely observed in Saudi Arabia, which is home to the holiest shrines in Islam located in Mecca and Medina. In observance of Eid al-Fitr, Saudis are expected to enjoy a four-day holiday.
