The date was decided on Saturday, after a meeting of seven national Muslim federations. Eid al-Fitr, the breaking of the Ramadan fast will take place on May, they announced in a joint statement distributed by the Great Mosque of Paris.
To explain this choice of date, they say they have “taken into consideration the results of work on the adoption of scientific calculation and universal astronomical data”, but also “the result of the observation of the moon in France and across the world “. The beginning and end of Ramadan are indeed determined by the position of the moon, the Muslim calendar being lunar.
These federations also explain that “these practical arrangements take into account the risk of crowds and aim to welcome the faithful in the best conditions”. “As the end of the Covid-19 pandemic is not yet relevant, we also recommend wearing a mask and using hydroalcoholic gel”, adds the text, after the previous two years marked by the pandemic.
Started April 2
Ramadan, the fourth pillar of Islam, began on April 2 this year in France. Eid el-Fitr or Eid el-Seghir (small feast) is one of the two most solemn dates of the Muslim calendar with the other Eid, Eid el-Kebir or Eid el-Adha, the great feast or Feast of Sacrifice. Muslims are then invited to pay alms for the poor, the zakât el-Fitr. It was “evaluated this year at seven euros per person”, according to the CFCM.
VIDEO. Ramadan: these isolated students break the fast together for 3€
The Eid al-Fitr holiday will also be celebrated from Monday in Saudi Arabia, religious authorities in the Gulf country said on Saturday. “Monday (…) will be the first day of Eid al-Fitr,” according to a statement from the official Saudi press agency SPA, citing a statement from the royal court.
This feast of breaking the fast will also begin on Monday in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, these other Gulf countries announced.