Doha: 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.
Executive Director of Qatar Calendar House, Dr. Faisal Al Ansari, said specialists had conducted precise astronomical calculations to determine the dates. He explained that the crescent moon marking the start of Dhu Al-Hijjah would be born late on Saturday evening at 11:02pm Doha time, and 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.
Dhu Al-Hijjah is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Eid Al-Adha, the "Festival of Sacrifice," is observed by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. Official confirmation of the dates is typically made by religious authorities following the moon-sighting process.
