Eid on Saturday, astronomers say

by Dylan Bowman on Tuesday, 09 October 2007

The Muslim festival of Eid Al Fitr will be celebrated in most of the Islamic countries on Saturday, the Emirates Astronomical Society (EAS) said on Tuesday.

EAS said a small number of Muslim countries, such as Libya, will be able to see the crescent moon on Thursday and will mark Eid on Friday, but for many the moon will not be visible as it will set before or at the same time as the sun rises, reported UAE state news agency Wam.

The society said on Friday the moon will be visible from observatories in northern and central parts of the Islamic world and by the eye in southern parts of the Islamic world.

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"'It is impossible to sight the crescent in all parts of the Islamic world on Thursday, October 11, as the moon will set before the sun in most countries or the moon will set at the same time with the sun in other parts," said Mohammed Shuwkat, EAS member and Chairman of the Islamic Crescents' Observation Project (ICOP), quoted Wam.

"Some countries which can see the crescent on Friday will observe Saturday as the first day of Eid," he added.

Shuwkat's comments back up a similar statement made by a Qatar Scientific Club (QSC) astronomer who has also said the festival will most likely fall on Saturday, reported Qatar daily The Peninsula.

Sheikh Salman bin Jaber Al Thani said that Eid, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, is technically on Friday, but the new moon will not be visible on Thursday evening due to astronomical reasons, quoted the newspaper.

No official statement has yet been made as to which date Eid will fall on.

If it does fall on Saturday as expected then private sector workers can look forward to an extended weekend following the UAE's announcement of a two-day holiday for Eid.

The Ministry of Labour on Sunday said employees in the private sector will get two days off on the first and second days of the Shawwal month, which begins the first day of Eid.

For public sector workers the Eid holiday will begin on Thursday, returning to work on Monday or Tuesday depending on when the first day of Eid is, the Minister of Governmental Sector Development said on Monday.

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USER COMMENTS (8 COMMENTS)
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Private & Public Sector
Posted by SF, Dubai, UAE on 10 October 2007 at 14:00 UAE time

I feel there should be no discrimination in Private and Public Sector.
It should be just 'All Companies'. If Labour Rules are 'Labour Rules' and not Private Sector Labour Rules and Public Sector Labour Rules. I think everything else also should be. That includes holidays.

Eid Holidays - Private Sector
Posted by Hassan Ghoul, Dubai, U.A.E. on 10 October 2007 at 14:00 UAE time

I believe the Ministry of Labour is right to issue their directives based on the whole of the Private Sector, a major part of which, such as the retail, health care and tourist businesses, have a 7-day work week. The Government's directives ensure that the employees who are requested to work during the off days get the right increased renumeration for their work. Some private companies do give their employees working days off in lieu of holidays that fall on a weekend, others don't and these are the ones which should be blamed, not the Ministry of Labour.

Mr. Bowman... OOPS!!
Posted by Amr Massoud, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 10 October 2007 at 11:00 UAE time

Pity, but your expertise of the Hijra calendar is as good as my knowledge of asteroidal orbits.
Your article seems to imply that there is a last day in Ramadan, then Eid day, then Shawwal starts, which is completely wrong.
Eid, by definition, marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, therefore must necessarily fall of the first day of the following month; Shawwal.
The private sector wil only get one extra day, Sunday, if Eid is on Saturday, or no extra days if Eid falls on Friday.

Wrong Statement
Posted by Ismail Palakkattu, Dubai, UAE on 10 October 2007 at 09:00 UAE time

Please note that this statement is wrong .
The Ministry of Labour on Sunday said employees in the private sector will get two days off on the first and second days of the Shawwal month, which if Eid falls on Saturday will be Sunday and Monday.
Kindly be informed, if Eid falls on Saturday(i.e shawwal 1) private sector will get two days holidays i.e.saturday& Sunday not sunday and monday

EID HOLIDAYS - PRIVATE SECTOR
Posted by Chake, Dubai, UAR on 9 October 2007 at 16:00 UAE time

Why are Private Sector management not having documented policy for Holidays that fall on the weekends... Why is the private sector not willing to grant the extended one day holiday....Is there any official objections from governmental body...if it is extended a further one day as a gesture for their employees !

Unfair for Private Sector
Posted by Ahmed, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 9 October 2007 at 15:00 UAE time

Only 2 holidays which comprise of Friday and Saturday are unfair for private sector. At least Sunday should be declared a holiday. Private sector employees already get very less time to spend with their families due to long working hours and travelling woes. I would request the authorities to re-consider.

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PRIVATE SECTOR'S EID HOLIDAYS
Posted by Buddhadeb Mookerjee, Dubai, UAE on 9 October 2007 at 15:00 UAE time

There is a possibility that first and second of Shawwal would fall on 12 and 13 of October which are Friday and Saturday respectively. Most private sector offices being closed on these two days of the week, there will be no extended weekend for them. This merits a re-look.

Two-day Eid holiday - official
Posted by Joh Carao, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 9 October 2007 at 14:00 UAE time

This is great news! It will give us hardworking employees additional rest for a good head start after the Ramadan season.

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