| Sayyed Fadlullah: Eid Al- Fitr is next Tuesday |
The Religious Authority, Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah issued a statement in which he announced that next Tuesday, the 30th of September 2008 A.D., is the first day of Eid Al-Fitr. H.E. said:
Based on our jurisprudential ruling that states that it is sufficient to rely on the accurate astronomical calculations to determine the beginning of the lunar month based on the possibility of seeing (even through magnifying devices) the crescent in any region that we share with a part of the night, it has been jurisprudentially proven to us that Tuesday, the 30th of September 2008 A.D., is the 1st of Shawwal for the year 1429 H. That is according to the expert astronomers who stated the conditions of seeing the crescent, through the magnifying devices in some countries and through the naked eye with the help of tools in several regions of South America which we share with a part of the night, are available. In some of these countries, the crescent will stay for 35 minutes. It is worth mentioning that our announcement, based on our jurisprudential ruling, does not contradict the testimony of the astronomers that it is impossible to see the crescent in the Islamic countries, since, based on our ruling, the horizon of seeing the crescent is wider and extends to all countries we share a part of the night with. .
We also indicate that since Australia and New Zealand do not share with South America a part of the night, then according to our jurisprudential ruling, the Eid in these countries is on Wednesday.
We pray to Allah, the most Exalted, to return it on the Lebanese and on all Muslims with unity and dignity, to end the occupation of many of our dear countries, and to make our nation a strong and a dignifying nation that works for the good. He is the All-Hearing.