Passing Moon Sighting Skills for Eid Celebration
Moon spotters were actively passing their skills to the next generation as Muslims awaited the sighting of the new moon to mark the celebration of Eid.
Families and astronomers gathered at a location locally known as the "top of the world" on Gaisby Lane in Shipley, aiming to observe a thin crescent of the new moon.
Islam follows a lunar calendar, with each month commencing upon the sighting of the moon. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of the 10th month of this calendar, signifying the end of Ramadan, a month during which Muslims fast from dawn until sundown.
Within the British Muslim community, there are differing views on when to celebrate Eid. Some follow the moon sighting guidance from Saudi Arabia, while others look to the nearest Muslim country, Morocco.
Due to cloudy weather conditions, the moon was not observed in the UK on Thursday. Consequently, the New Moon Society declared Eid would be on Saturday. However, the moon was sighted in Saudi Arabia and Morocco, leading many Muslims to celebrate Eid on Friday.
The New Crescent Society is a British grassroots astronomy network, established in 2016, which aims to unite British Muslims by following the moon sighting within the UK.
Hamza Mutahir Khan, an organiser who has been spotting the moon monthly for six years, noted the network's growth and increasing recognition.
"Six years ago there was only two or three people and over the years it's been a communal thing with the community getting to do it more often,"
"The mission and the vision is to put the whole of English Muslims regardless of background under one moon, as Muslims together.
"If you don't want to import or outsource the moon, there's always the moon above us to follow."
Erin McNeill, physics engagement lead at the University of Leeds, expressed her enjoyment in collaborating with the society and meeting moon sighters from across the country.
"We live in Bradford, this is one of the most important times in our city. It's been so wonderful to see so many families and young people coming together to sight the new moon,"
"The beauty of a united British calendar is that you would be able to have this network across the country and celebrate Eid on one day."
"Enthusiastic astronomer" Nazish was out moon spotting with her three nieces and nephews and emphasized her desire to pass on the skill.
"We came here for the first time last year and what they enjoyed is trying to understand the sunnah [Islamic traditions] and understanding why we try to find the moon ourselves, and why we try to follow the footsteps of the prophet (sa Sallam),"
"I really want to pass on that knowledge to them so they can pass on that knowledge to their generation going forward, inshallah."
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