ANIC: Australia to Celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Saturday, 22 April 2023

Australian Fatwa Council from the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) has just released a statement regarding the date of Eid-ul-Fitr for the islamic calendar 1444 AH. They stated that based on the position of the crescent moon on the evening of 29th of Ramadan this year (20 April 2023), the moon will not be high enough and long enough above the horizon after sunset in Australia. Therefore, the month of Ramadan this year will completed to 30 days and Eid-ul-Fitr (1 Shawwal 1444 AH) will be celebrated on Saturday, 22 April 2023.

As quoted from the statement above, here is a passage about how the start of the hijri lunar month is determined by the Council:

“The method in which the Grand Mufti of Australia and the Australian Fatwa Council had determined the end of the month of Ramadan, the first day of Shawwal and the day of Eid-ul-Fitr is based on the calculated birth of the moon before sunset, and the duration of the moonset after sunset, and the possibility sighting the moon. This is a method that many prominent and reputable global scholars councils have adopted.”

Although the birth of the moon is before sunset in Australia, the moon would have already set before sunset or otherwise would be only briefly above the horizon after sunset on Friday evening. Therefore sighting of the moon from Australia is deemed impossible.