Latest news with #IbrahimAkhyam
Morocco World
26-05-2025
- General
- Morocco World
Eid Al Adha 2025 Date: Will It Fall on Friday or Saturday Next Week?
Rabat — With Eid Al Adha 2025 around the corner, many are googling whether the sacrifice feast is on Friday or Saturday of next week. News websites and astronomers in the Middle East are expecting Eid to fall on Friday, June 6, in some countries, including in Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and more. The Middle East Economy said GCC countries have already confirmed a public holiday for Eid Al Adha this year. UAE's cabinet said public and private sectors will observe a total of four days, starting Dhu al-Hijjah 9 through 12 of the Islamic month. In Qatar, the country confirmed a five-day holiday, with the vacation extending from Dhu al-Hijjah 9 to 13 of the same month. As for Quait, public institutions will enjoy a holiday that starts on June 5 and will last through June 9. Omani people will enjoy a holiday from Dhu al-Hiijjah 9-12. Morocco announced today that the sighting of the crescent moon for Eid Al Adha will take place on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia announced the same news. A Moroccan astronomer expects Eid Al Adha to fall on June 7, while other astronomers expect Saudis to celebrate the feast on Friday next week. Astronomer Ibrahim Akhyam suggested that bad weather conditions will not allow religious authorities to sight the crescent moon with the naked eye. Gulf News quoted Ibrahim Al Jarwan, chairman of the board of directors at the Emirates Astronomical Society as saying that Eid Al Adha is expected to fall on June 6. Morocco has canceled the Eid Al Adha sacrifice ritual, but Moroccans are looking forward to the official date of the feast as the event holds more than just the sacrifice of goats and sheep. The feast in Morocco is about family reunion, prayers, and also the atmosphere that covers the whole country. Tags: Eid Al Adhaeid al adha 2025
Morocco World
26-05-2025
- General
- Morocco World
Astronomer: Eid Al Adha 2025 is Saturday, June 7 in Morocco
Rabat — Ibrahim Akhyam, a researcher in the science of timekeeping and a member of the Islamic Moon Sighting Project, said Moroccans are expected to celebrate Eid Al Adha 2025 on Saturday, June 7. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has tasked its delegates to observe the crescent moon for Dhu Al Hijjah on Tuesday. The tenth of Dhu Al Hijjah marks Eid Al Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail in obedience to God. Muslims commemorate the sacred event by slaughtering a sheep. This year, however, Morocco has canceled the Eid Al Adha sacrifice rite due to drought and a notable decrease in the herd population. However, the country will celebrate the other rites as usual, including morning prayers of Eid, family visits, exchanges, among other rituals. Astronomer Akhyam told Morocco World News (MWN) today that crescent moon researchers are divided over the exact timing of this year's date, with some favoring Friday, June 6, as the date of Eid Al Adha but others June 7. Akhyam is among those who are leaning toward Saturday, June 7, noting that sighting the crescent of Dhu al-Hijjah with the naked eye will be difficult in Morocco on Tuesday evening. 'This is primarily due to the insufficient age of the crescent moon and the minimal availability of other scientific criteria needed to confirm the possibility of sighting,' he told MWN. He concluded that with the crescent moon not likely visible on Tuesday evening, Eid Al Adha in Morocco is expected to fall on Saturday, June 7. 'It's important to note that these astronomical calculations are only a scientific aid to help guide the sighting process,' he added, noting that the official date will be ultimately confirmed by authorized religious authorities. Tags: Eid Al Adhaeid al adha cancelled
Morocco World
30-03-2025
- General
- Morocco World
Official: Eid Al Fitr 2025 is on Monday in Morocco
Rabat — Morocco's Ministry of Islamic Affairs announced today that Eid Al Fitr is on Monday, March 31. The Islamic Ministry announced the news after religious authorities confirmed that the crescent moon for the month of Shawwal, marking the end of Ramadan, was sighted. With the crescent moon visible, Eid Al Fitr will be on Monday, and therefore, Moroccans will be enjoying a long weekend, with both Monday and Tuesday off. The announcement confirms predictions by astronomer Ibrahim Akhyam, who told Morocco World News that the moon will be visible tonight, pending an official confirmation from the ministry. Eid Al Fitr is another significant religious holiday, when Muslims across the world flock to mosques to perform Eid prayers. Following Eid prayers, families gather for their first morning breakfast after 29 to 30 days of fasting from dawn to sunset every day. Ftour or breakfast tables in Morocco are typically adorned with different savory and sweet meals, particularly pastries, and Moroccan sable or almond-based cookies. Moroccans also serve special bread-like dishes like mssmen, a buttery flatbread that is usually served with honey (lessl), cheese, and sometimes amlou, a peanut or almond paste. Baghrir, also known as the Moroccan pancake, is a go-to among Moroccans during Eid. No ftour is complete without a cup of steaming hot mint tea, which can also have sheeba, or saffron as additional herbs. Morocco started fasting for Ramadan on March 2, unlike other countries that started the holy month fasting on March 1, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Egypt, among other countries. Beyond the breakfast feast, Eid Al Fitr is special in Morocco for its morning atmosphere. The streets are filled with celebratory greetings like 'Mbrook l' Eid' or 'Mbrook A'awashrkom' — just two of many ways that people greet and wish each other happy Eid celebrations. Children wear new clothes on Eid and line up in the early morning next to their houses' door to show off their new styles, or maybe brag about their 'Eidi' hauls — cash they receive from their relatives on this occasion. Both Moroccan men and women adorn themselves in new gandoras or djellabas, but the women may also additionally wear beautiful kaftans and takshitas to celebrate Eid in style.
Morocco World
26-03-2025
- Science
- Morocco World
Morocco Expected to Celebrate Eid Al Fitr 2025 on March 31
Astronomical projections expect Eid Al Fitr, the festival that officially ends the holy month of Ramadan, to be celebrated this year in Morocco on March 31. Ibrahim Akhyam, a researcher in the science of timekeeping and a member of the Islamic Moon Sighting Project, told Morocco World News (MWN) that this Ramadan is unlikely to last 30 days. This means that Eid Al Fitr will fall on March 31, he argued. Akhyam stressed, however, that the astronomical calculations serve as a 'scientific preliminary for the sighting.' As he noted, the 'officially recognized method in Morocco remains the legitimate visual sighting as confirmed by the official authorities.' Morocco's Islamic Affairs will dedicate a team of religious authorities to sighting the crescent moon for Eid Al Fitr, likely on Saturday or Sunday this week. Eid Al Fitr is another sacred celebration in Morocco when families gather around a breakfast table with different food and Moroccan pastries. The festival is a special social occasion, especially for children who wear new clothes and receive gifts, including cash. They also go out to the streets to play and show off their festive attire. Eid is also a time when Moroccans celebrate a few days off as a holiday, which allows people who live outside of their hometown to travel back and enjoy the festivities with their families. Many reports suggest that Saudi Arabia and other countries will also celebrate Eid Fitr on Sunday or Monday, depending on moon sighting results. The sighting will determine whether Ramadan will last 29 or 30 days this year.
Morocco World
26-03-2025
- Morocco World
Eid Al Fitr Expected for March 31
Rabat – Eid Al Fitr is expected to fall either on March 30 or March 31 around the world – varying based on astronomical predictions. The Islamic website Qatari Calendar House said March 31 is expected to be the first day of Eid Al Fitr, drawing its findings based on astronomical calculations. 'The crescent moon for this year's Shawaal (the 10th lunar month) will be born on the evening of Saturday, March 29 at 1:58 p..m. Doha local time,' The Peninsula Qatar said, citing forecasts by the Calendar House Executive Director Faisal Al Ansari. Meanwhile, the International Astronomy Center suggests that sighting the crescent moon for the month of Shawaal will not be possible on Saturday, March 29 in the UAE. Therefore, Eid Al Fitr is expected to begin on Monday, March 31. UAE celebrated the first day of Ramadan on March 1, unlike Morocco, which began fasting on March 2. Morocco's Ibrahim Akhyam, a researcher in the science of timekeeping and a member of the Islamic Moon Sighting Project, told Morocco World News (MWN) that Ramadan is unlikely to complete its 30 days in Morocco, noting that Eid Al Fitr will all be on March 31. Many countries are already gearing up for Eid, with markets bustling and concerts and events taking place around the world, including in the UAE. 'An eclectic line-up of music events is set to take place across the UAE in the week following Eid Al Fitr, featuring everything from pop concerts and high-profile club performances to children's musicals,' The National News reported. Some Muslim countries have announced a prolonged holiday, including Saudi Arabia, which set the vacation at four days. Considering weeks in Saudi Arabia fall on Friday and Saturday, people in the country will enjoy a six-day break. As for Morocco, if Eid falls on Monday, Moroccans can expect to have both Monday and Tuesday off. In the Muslim world, religious authorities are assigned to sight the crescent moon, based on which the official date for Eid is announced through the official channels, including Islamic ministries. Whether Eid falls on Sunday or Monday, Muslim communities are united in anticipation and celebration in these last days of Ramadan 2025. Tags: eid al fitr celebrations
