THE STRAITS TIMES – Muslims in Singapore will celebrate Hari Raya Puasa, also known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri tomorrow the Republic’s top Islamic leader said yesterday.
In a statement, Mufti Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir said that according to astronomical calculations, the crescent moon for the Islamic month of Syawal did not appear in the evening after sunset, as it had set earlier.
“This signifies that tomorrow (May 2) will be the end of 30 days of Ramadhan,” he said. “As such, I am pleased to announce that the first day of Syawal or Hari Raya Aidilfitri for year 1443 Hijrah falls on Tuesday, May 3.”
Dr Nazirudin also said in an Instagram post that a team from the Office of the Mufti had, after sunset yesterday, conducted a moon-sighting, but the crescent moon – which traditionally marks the start of a new month in the Islamic calendar – could not be seen.
“May Allah the Almighty bless this effort to help us follow our Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) saying, which tells us to fast for 30 days if the crescent moon is not visible,” he added in the post in Malay.
The post included a photo of Dr Nazirudin and his colleagues with astronomical instruments at Raffles Marina in Tuas.
