Public requested to report sightings of the Shawwal moon

The Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) has announced that it will cover all travel expenses for individuals who sight the new moon of Shawwal and come forward to provide official testimony.

The moon sighting for Eid is scheduled for next Wednesday. Authorities have requested that anyone who sights the moon report the information as promptly as possible.

Any individual or group claiming to have sighted the moon must provide their testimony before a judge of a court in Male', if they are in the capital. If they are on any other island, the testimony must be given before a magistrate at the respective island's Magistrate Court.

The Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) stated that in islands where a resident magistrate is not present, testimony may be provided before the magistrate currently overseen by that island's Magistrate Court.

The department further stated that when reporting a moon sighting, individuals must provide specific details, including the approximate altitude and direction of the moon, along with other relevant information.

The Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) has announced that its offices, along with Magistrate Courts, Island Councils, and Atoll Councils, will remain open from 5:30 PM on Wednesday, March 18, until a formal decision is reached regarding the sighting of the Shawwal moon.

According to both the calendar and astronomical calculations, this year's Ramadan will consist of thirty days. Based on the current calendar, Eid al-Fitr is expected to fall on Friday of next week.

However, sighting the moon remains a fundamental principle established under Islamic Sharia. Therefore, the moon will be observed on Wednesday, and if sighted, the month of Shawwal will commence. In that case, Eid al-Fitr will fall on Thursday of next week.

If the moon is not sighted, the month of Ramadan will be completed, and Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated next Friday.