Fiqh Council of North America: Eid Al-Adha on October 4,

Eid Al Adha is expected to start on Saturday, October 4, the Fiqh Council of North America (FQNA) has announced, citing astronomical calculations and awaiting the final confirmation of Wednesday’s sighting of Dhul-Hijjah moon.

“The Astronomical New Moon is on Wednesday September 24, 2014 at 6:14 UT. September 25, 2014 is expected to be the 1st day of Dhul Hijjah 1435,” FQNA announced in a statement published on its website.

“The day of Arafah – the main day of Hajj – is expected to be on Friday, October 3, 2014 and so the `Eid Al-Adha 1435 is expected on Saturday, October 4, 2014.”

The council, however, announced that they will wait for the final confirmation on the start of Dhul-Hijjah by Saudi authorities on Wednesday.

Following its adopted current criteria for `Eid Al-Adha, the Fiqh Council of North America announces that the final determination of the date of `Eid Al-Adha will be contingent on the announcement by the Hajj authorities in Makkah of the day of ‘Arafah, in which case `Eid Al-Adha will be the day following the day of Arafah,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has called on all Muslims in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to sight the crescent of the month of Dhul-Hijjah, on Wednesday evening.

In UK, Mohammed Shawkat Awda, the chairman of Islamic Crescent Observation Project (ICOP) announced that the countries who follow Saudi Arabia will observe `Eid on October 5 or 4.

`Eid Al-Adha, or “Feast of Sacrifice”, is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations, together with `Eid Al-Fitr.

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