Picture: File Photo
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Calendar House has announced that Monday (May 18) is expected to mark the beginning of Dhu Al-Hijjah 1447 AH, according to astronomical calculations, with Eid Al-Adha forecast to begin on Wednesday (May 27).
Dhu Al-Hijjah is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is one of the holiest periods in Islam. It is the month during which Muslims perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage, while Eid Al-Adha - the "Festival of Sacrifice" - is observed by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim, known as Abraham in Christianity and Judaism, to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Executive Director of Qatar Calendar House, Dr Faisal Al Ansari, who said specialists at the organization had conducted precise astronomical calculations to determine the dates.
Dr Al Ansari explained that the crescent moon marking the start of Dhu Al-Hijjah would be born late on Saturday evening at 11:02pm Doha time (8:02pm GMT).
He added that sighting the crescent on Saturday evening would be "impossible" in Qatar and across the Arab and Islamic world because the moon would not yet have been born at the time of sunset.
Under the Islamic lunar calendar, the beginning and end of Hijri months are determined by the moon's movement around the Earth, while the Gregorian calendar is based on the Earth's orbit around the sun.
The announcement provides an early astronomical indication of the timing of Eid Al-Adha, although official confirmation of the start of Dhu Al-Hijjah and Eid dates is typically made by religious authorities following the moon-sighting process.
