THE controversial moon-sighting on the eve of Eidul Fitr this year reminded one of the year 1967 during the Ayub Khan government when a similar situation had arisen. That year, too, it was largely assumed that Eid would fall on a Friday, but a late-night announcement by the relevant committee at the time said the moon had been sighted in some remote area of the country.

I still remember some people fasting on that day, and some prayer-leaders keeping the doors of mosques locked so that Eid prayers could not be held on the day. That year, two Eids were celebrated; the official one on Thursday, and the second on Friday.

What a coincidence that on both the occasions the moon was sighted at a remote place. Why was there such an insistence for a Thursday Eid? Why can’t we have Eid on Fridays? Is it because of some myth?

This year the committee made the announcement as late as 11.30 on Wednesday night after prolonged deliberations, while a federal minister had tweeted much earlier that it was impossible for the Shawwal moon to be visible on the day anywhere in Pakistan.

For the last 73 years we continue to have this controversy almost every year on Eid. This is ironic considering Eid itself is about unity and harmony. Why don’t we decide once and for all as to whom the responsibility of sighting the moon be delegated to — the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee or to the meteorological department?

Why leave this legacy, in addition to other unresolved issues, to our future generations? We can lessen at least one burden on them.

Just for the record, Saudi Arabia celebrated Eid this year after fasting for 30 days, on sighting of the new moon. And, the Jeddah Astronomical Association had already predicted that the Shawwal moon was likely to be sighted on May 12 which it did.

Muhammad K. Sufi
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2021