Idd-ul-Fitr will be on Saturday, says Sheikh Ahmed Muhdhar

Chief Kadhi Sheikh Ahmed Shariff Muhdhar in his office in Mombasa in this photo taken on July 16, 2015. He said Idd would be marked on July 18, 2015. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI |

By  MOHAMED AHMED

What you need to know:

  • He made the announcement in Mombasa after the moon, which signifies the end of the holy month of Ramadhan, failed to appear as was expected.
  • Sheikh Muhdhar together with his committee members took several hours to observe the moon outside the "Wakfu" headquarters in Mombasa.
  • His announcement coincides with the government gazette notice that declared Saturday a public holiday.

Muslims in Kenya will celebrate Idd-ul-Fitr on Saturday, Chief Kadhi Ahmed Muhdhar said late Thursday.

He made the announcement in Mombasa after a crescent moon, which signifies the end of the holy month of Ramadhan, failed to appear as was expected.

Sheikh Muhdhar, together with his committee members, took several hours looking for the moon outside the "Wakfu" headquarters in Mombasa to see nothing.

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His announcement coincides with the government gazette notice that declared Saturday a public holiday.

MOON NOT SIGHTED

“Idd celebrations will be marked on Saturday because we did not sight the moon and we have not received any communication from faithful in East Africa. Tanzania and Zanzibar have not sighted the moon either,” he said.

Addressing journalists at his office after Iftar (breaking the fast), the Chief Kadhi called on Muslims and other Kenyans to maintain peace and harmony.

Sheikh Muhdhar urged Muslims to rely on the physical sighting of the moon, as per Islamic laws, to signal the start of Idd celebrations.

“As a committee, we have agreed that we are going to complete the 30th day of Ramadhan on Friday in contrast to those who want to mark the celebration tomorrow (Friday)," he said.

Earlier Thursday, Sheikh Muhdhar said Kenyan Muslims would only celebrate Idd on Friday if the crescent moon was sighted in East Africa.

SOME CELEBRATING

“We have special networks in the whole of East African region. That means we will begin the celebrations if the moon is sighted locally only and not universally,” he said.

However, other Muslims will be marking the celebration on Friday together with those in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.

In his media address, Sheikh Mudhar also called on the government to beef up security during Idd.

Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa early this week assured Muslims that security would be beefed up during the celebrations.

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