Saudi Arabia announces sighting of moon

By Opeyemi Abdulsalam

The authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Thursday announced the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent.

This development signals the beginning of the 12th Islamic month.

With the sighting of the crescent, tomorrow marks the first day of the new month in which Hajj will be held.

The five-day spiritual exercise will commence on Friday, June 14, while Arafat Day, which is the peak of Hajj, is June 15 and Eid Adha, the Feast of celebration, also known as Eid-ul-Kabir, comes up on June 16.

Eid Al-Adha, which is the e Muslim biggest festival, will be observed on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

The Arafat Day, which precedes the festival, will fall on June 15.

It is the second major Islamic festival celebrated by Muslims after Eid-ul-Fitr.

Dhul Hijjah is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar and it holds great significance for Muslims worldwide as it is the month during which the annual pilgrimage known as Hajj takes place in the holy city of Mecca and marks Eid ul-Adha.

Dhul Hijjah is considered a sacred month and it is a time of heightened devotion, reflection and acts of worship.

In a tweet on Thursday, Haramain, Islamic agency in Saudi Arabia, announced that the crescent moon has been sighted in Saudi Arabia.

“BREAKING | The crescent moon has been sighted in Saudi Arabia. Dhul Hijjah 1445 (2024) has commenced,” the post read.