May 2 Raya announcement because new moon sighted, says FT Mufti

PETALING JAYA: The announcement of May 2 as the first day of Syawal was because the new moon was sighted, says Federal Territory Mufti Datuk Dr Luqman Abdullah (pic).

He said the sighting was at one out of 29 lunar observation locations in Malaysia, adding that this year is is different from the usual because the new moon was sighted at one of the gazetted locations.

“This (year) was a bit different. One out of the 29 gazetted locations for observing the new moon reported a sighting. Hence, the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal had declared (May 2) as the first day of Syawal, unlike the previous prediction.

"Based on the criteria, based on our calculations, it is difficult (to sight the new moon), but the possibility is there," he was quoted saying to Astro Awani.

In Malaysia, the criteria are that the new moon must exceed three degrees elevation and the degree of elongation of the sun and the moon must exceed 6.4 degrees.

He added that the fair weather led to the sighting.

On Sunday (May 1), the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad announced that Muslims in Malaysia will celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri on Monday (May 2).

"In keeping with the command of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, following the consent of the Rulers, I hereby declare that the date for Hari Raya for the states in Malaysia has been set for Monday, May 2, 2022,” he said.

The announcement was broadcast over local television networks.

After two years of celebrating Syawal in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, this time around, Muslims in Malaysia get to celebrate Aidilfitri during the transition to the endemic phase, which began on April 1.

Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei had declared May 2 as the first day of Syawal, while Singapore observed May 3 as predicted because their Islamic authorities did not see the new moon.

Apart from Singapore, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan are among the countries which will mark Aidilfitri on May 3.

Singapore Mufti Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir announced that the first day of Syawal 1443H/2022 falls on Tuesday (May 3).

"According to the ‘hisab’ (calculation), the crescent moon of Syawal is unlikely to be seen on the horizon of Singapore when the sun sets this afternoon and also does not meet the conditions of the ‘imkanur rukyah’ criteria that have been agreed by the member countries of MABIMS.

"This means that May 2 is the culmination of the month of Ramadan for 30 days and the beginning of the month of Syawal in 1443H, which is, Hari Raya Aidilfitri falls on May 3," he said in a video posted by The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS).

MABIMS is an acronym for Menteri-Menteri Agama Negara Brunei Darussalam, Republik Indonesia, Malaysia dan Repbulik Singapura (Ministers of Religion of Brunei Darussalam, the Republic of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Republic of Singapore).