Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Monday announced that Eidul Azha will be celebrated on 31 July 2020 according to the Islamic calendar issued by his ministry.
When Eid ul Fitr’s moon sighting was the main topic of discussion, we could see the tension between Minister of Science and Technology Chaudhary Fawad Hussain and the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
Now it seems that the tension is going to peak again; Chaudhary Fawad Hussain has announced that Eid ul Adha 2020 will be celebrated on July 31 across the country.
Taking to Twitter, Chaudhry said that the Zil Haj moon will be seen “over Karachi and its peripheral areas on July 21”.
وزارت @MinistryofST کے کیلنڈر کے مطابق عید الضحیٰ 31جولائ 2020 بروز جمعہ ہو گی، 21 جولائ کو ذیاالحج کا چاند کراچی اور اس کے ارد گرد علاقوں میں دوربین سے واضع طور پر اور کئ علاقوں میں آنکھ سے بھی دیکھا جا سکے گا۔ چاند کی لوکیشن کیلئےآپ“رویت”ایپ بھی استعمال کرسکتے ہیں ۔ #EID
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) June 15, 2020
Chaudhary Fawad has been advocating that the Ministry of Science and Technology should be allowed to take the lead in viewing the moon. In the past, it has been the duty of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
The festival may also be known as Al Eid Al Kabeer, which means the ‘Grand Eid’. It has this more important status as in religious terms as this Eid lasts for four days whereas Eid Al Fitr is one day, even though most countries observe the same number of public holidays for both Eids.
This festival is celebrated throughout the Muslim world as a commemoration of Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice everything for God.
Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar.
As the exact day is based on lunar sightings, the date may vary between countries.