Saturday, June 24, 2017

Eid al Fitr - Expert Predictions?


While Moroccans await the official statement from the Moroccan Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs on the exact end of Ramadan, there are a couple of astronomers with a good record of forecasting the end of the holy month.
Abdelaziz Kharbouch and Hicham El Issaoui, say that on the basis of their calculations, which do not exclude observation of the crescent moon. "It will be invisible on Saturday evenings, in the east as well as in the south of the country". They claim that the month of Ramadan will go until the end of its thirty days and that "Eid al Fitr, will be celebrated in Morocco on Monday, June 26th".

It remains that a small margin of error and doubt will persist until the last minute on Saturday night when the observation of the first crescent of the month and the confirmation of its appearance in the Moroccan sky through the Official statement of the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs.

On the other hand, if you ask Google, the answer is unequivocal. Google says Eid al-Fitr 2017 will begin in the evening of Sunday, June 25 and ends in the evening of Monday, June 26th.

Eid Mubarak to all our readers!

This is also the time for Zakat and Sadaqat al-Fitr

The significant role played by Zakat in the circulation of wealth within the Islamic society is also played by the Sadaqat al-Fitr. However, in the case of Sadaqat al-Fitr, each individual is required to calculate how much charity is due from himself and his dependents and go into the community in order to find those who deserve such charity.


Sadaqat al-Fitr plays a very important role in the development of the bonds of community. The rich are obliged to come in direct contact with the poor, and the poor are put in contact with the extremely poor. This contact between the various levels of society helps to build real bonds of brotherhood and love within the Islamic community and trains those who have, to be generous to those who do not have.

Zakat Fitr (alms of the fast breaking) is mandatory for "anyone who has food for a day and a night" and "has a surplus of food." It must be paid on behalf of any dependents. For example, a family man with three children will pay Zakat for himself, his wife and three children. This offering may be paid in cash, or food.

The amount to be paid is set by the Ministry of Religious Affairs which this year set it at around 15 dirhams.

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