By Wam/Staff

Today, July 28, is the first day of Eid Al Fitr in the UAE, the Moon Sighting Committee announced on Sunday evening, according to the Emirates News Agency, Wam.

''After exhausting all legitimate methods and making contacts with neighbouring countries, the Shawwal moon was sighted and therefore Sunday, July 27, 2014 is the completion day of Ramadan and Monday July 28, the 1st of Shawwal 1435, is the first day of Eid Al Fitr," Sultan bin Saeed Al Badi, Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Committee, announced after the committee meeting at the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.



Al Badi and committee members extended warm congratulations on the occasion to the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates, General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Crown Princes, as well as the people of UAE and Muslims across the world.

EARLIER REPORTs

The moon sighting committees of the UAE and Saudi Arabia are meeting now in their respective countries to witness Shawwal moon and an official announcement is expected soon.

A number of astronomers have predicted that the holy month of Ramadan will end on Sunday, July 27 and Monday, July 28, is the first day of Shawwal.

Muslims have been asked to report sighting of the moon to the authorities concerned.

Most of the Arab, European, American and Canadian Muslims celebrate the holy month of Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr on the same dates as the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Shawwal moon-sighting panel meeting underway in Peshawar

The Shawwal moon-sighting committees is also meeting in the Qasim Ali Khan Mosque in Peshawar, Pakistan.

The meeting of the scholars is chaired by Mufti Shahab-ud-Din Popalzai. Many people in the Northern Pakistan celebrate the holy month of Ramadan along with the Muslims in Middle East, Europe and the US.

UAE panel to meet in Abu Dhabi

Sultan bin Saeed Al Badi, Minister of Justice has issued a decision setting up the moon-sighting committee for the month of Shawwal, Hijri 1435.

The committee, chaired by the Minister of Justice, includes Mohammed bin Hamad Al Badi, Under- Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, along with a number of officials.

The decision called on all the Sharia courts across the country to look out for the crescent moon and inform the committee.

The committee will hold the meeting after Maghrib prayer on Sunday, the 29th of Ramadan, Hijri 1435, corresponding to July 27, 2014 at the Judiciary Department in Abu Dhabi.

Eid moon image captured, claims Icop

The Islamic Crescents' Observation Project (Icop) announced today that an image of Eid moon has captured and Eid Al Fitr will be marked tomorrow.

However, it said authorities in each country will decide whether to accept or not its crescent image capturing technique for the moon-sighting.

Icop earlier said it’s going to broadcast live the observation of the Eid Crescent on Sunday July 27 from Amman in Jordan.



The Icop said that it is going to broadcast on the Internet so that visitors can see the observation process in detail.



“In case the crescent is visible, then the visitor will be the first to see it along with the observers. The technique we are using CCD Imaging. This is a new technology used for crescent sighting,” it said in a statement.



Icop added that CCD imaging is done by taking many photos for the location of the crescent, which can go up to as many as 300 photos. Then these photos are combined into one photo by a dedicated software.



“Afterwards, image processing (contrast tuning) might be needed, and then the crescent could appear. This technique surpasses the naked eye observation and the telescope, as the crescent can be seen at daytime, even if the crescent cannot be seen by naked eye or by the telescopes. Thus, we usually start this kind of observation early morning, and we keep following the crescent until sunset and moonset.



"We leave aside whether this kind of observation is accepted by Shariah (Islamic) point of view or not. We just do a scientific work, and then it is up to the authorities to consider it or not,” Icop said.



People can get more details by visiting the Icop website http://www.icoproject.org/live.html.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.