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Eid is a special time for Muslims. There are two major Eid celebrations each year: Eid al-Fitr is celebrated at the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, and Eid al-Adha is linked to the dates of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Eid, which means ‘festival’ or ‘festival’ in Arabic, is a festive event for more than one billion Muslims worldwide. However, in some countries, especially multicultural such as Australia, Muslims do not always celebrate on the same day. Here’s the reason.
In addition to different groups that celebrate on different days, the timing of Eid celebrations also shifts each year as a whole. This is because Islam follows the lunar calendar based on the cycles of the moon – unlike the Gregorian calendar following the sun.
As such, dates on the Islamic calendar come 10-12 days earlier each year. This means that the dates of both EIDs also move forward about 11 days ahead annually.
In terms of the Islamic calendar:
Eid al-Fitr happens on the 1st of the month Shawwal (the 10th month), which comes after the month of Ramadan.
Eid al-Adha appeared on the 10th of Dhuil-Hijjah (the 12th month), during the pilgrimage.
Since Islam follows the lunar calendar, which determines the beginning of every Islamic month, and the dates of both eids, you must observe the new sickle moon, which comes directly to the new moon (the phase in which the moon is invisible).
But there are different methods to do this, and different scientific interpretations regarding which method is best. These variations are the reason why one group can celebrate in a community on a Sunday, while others can celebrate on a Monday.
Some Muslims believe that each country must rely on its own local lunar view.
This means that if the new sickle moon is visible in neighboring countries, but not in Australia (as it is hidden behind the clouds), then Australia must celebrate a day after its neighbors. The Moepsiginging Australia organization follows this method, and declares only eid when the moon is seen locally.
However, others argue when the moon is seen all over the world, it must be accepted by all Muslims as the beginning of the new Islamic month. Some Muslims in Australia opt for this ‘Global Moon Business’ approach, to the Eid announcement of Saudi Arabia, even if the moon is not seen locally.
Apart from the question of where the sickle moon is seen, there are also different views of how it should be seen. Many scholars believe in seeing it physically with their eyes, as was practiced in the time of the prophet Muhammad.
But some Muslim countries, such as in Turkey and parts of Europe, use astronomical calculations to predict the birth of the new moon. This allows them to set the date of Eid months, or even years, in advance.
In Muslim majority countries, the decision of the day of Eid at government level takes place.
For example, in Saudi Arabia, the Supreme Court officially declares the date on the basis of lunar care reports. This decision sets the timing for Eid prayers and public holidays for the entire country, which enables United Celebrations across the country.
But Muslims in Australia come from different cultural backgrounds, and have different views on how the moon should be seen. Some may follow the EID announcement of their country of origin. Others can rely on local announcements, or on dates set by peak bodies such as the Australian National Imams Council.
One 2023 report published by the Isra Academy questioned more than 5,500 Muslims in Australia to understand how they determined the date of Eid.
The findings show significant differences in communities. Respondents of the Arab community were almost evenly distributed between following their local mosque (28.5 percent) and the Australian National Imams Council (28.0 percent), with a slightly lower percentage (23.9 percent) to Moepskting Australia. Only 0.6 percent followed their country of origin.
Among the Turkish community, 16.1 percent followed their country of origin, while the largest percentage (28.5 percent) relied on a local mosque or Islamic organization. But given the Turkish mosques tend to follow the Turkey’s religious institution, Diyanet, most Australian Turks (44.6 percent) eventually include the decision of Turkey on Eid.
Of the other, 18.8 percent followed Moepskting Australia and 14.6 percent to the National Imams’ Council.
In the African Muslim community, 48.4 percent of Moongskifting followed Australia, while 32.8 percent relied on a local mosque, and 11.7 percent on the Imams Council.
Although the celebration of Eid may seem divided and fragmented on different days, there are positive aspects of this.
For one thing, this means that Australian Muslims are actively seeking information from different religious authorities. It reflects a high level of public involvement in religious decisions – rather than following blindly.
The strong influence of organizations such as the Australian National Imams Council and Moongskting Australia also indicates that local religious institutions are a reliable guidance source.
In addition, the high percentage of Muslims after Moongskting Australia indicates a tendency towards a localized determination of Eid. And this trend is likely to get stronger with the rise of Australian Muslims in the third and fourth generation less related to their ancestral homelands.
Only the time will see if most Australian Muslims will eventually celebrate Eid on the same day. Meanwhile, families and communities continue to navigate these differences with understanding and respect.
Zuleyha Keskin is Co -professor of Islamic studies at Charles Sturt University, in Bathurst, Australia. This article is re -published from the conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the Original article
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