Saudi Supreme Court Calls on Muslims to Sight 'Dhu Al-Hijjah' Crescent Monday

An official looks through a telescope for a sighting of a new moon to decide when hajj rituals begin.

Riyadh, MINA – Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has called on all Muslims in the Kingdom to sight the crescent of Dhu Al-Hijjah month, 1438 AH, on Monday evening, 29th of the month of Dhu-al-Qa’dah, reported the Saudi Press Agency, SPA.

According to the agency, the Supreme Court said in its announcement that whoever sees the crescent of the month of Dhu Al-Hijjah by the naked eye or via binoculars to report to the nearest court and register their testimony or report to the nearest centre to facilitate their reaching to a court.

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Idl Al-Adha or 10 Dhu Al-Hajjah is expected to fall on 1 September. So, the Hajj rituals for 2017 begin on August 30 and last until Monday, September 4.

But, like all Muslim events, it will depend on the moon.

Once the start of the month has been determined by a moon sighting at Mecca, then the date of the Hajj can be worked out.

Because the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, dates vary each year. As most of the Western World uses the sun-based Gregorian calendar, Islamic dates appear to drift back by 11 days a year. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)

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