Dhul Hijjah 1445 moon sighting LIVE for Eid ul Adha 2024: Australia announces Bakrid date for Muslims

Following confirmed reports of moon-sighting, it has been announced that Dhu al Qa’dah has ended with 29 days in South Africa and the 1st day of Dhu al Hijjah 1445 is Sat June 08, 2024 while Eid-ul-Adha will be on Monday, Jun 17, 2024.

Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali of the Markazi Chand Committee in Lucknow confirms sighting of Dhul Hijjah 1445 AH crescent moon and as a result, Eid al Adha will be celebrated in the Uttar Pradesh capital on Monday, June 17, 2024.

Grand Mufti announces that Dhul Hijjah moon sighted in Jammu and Kashmir, Eid-ul-Adha to be celebrated in J&K on June 17, 2024.

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee in Pakistan announces that the moon of Zil Hajj has been sighted. Eid-ul-Adha in Pakistan will be on Monday, June 17, 2024, as confirmed by Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad, Chairman of Ruet-e-Hilal Central Committee.

Colombo Grand Mosque announces that the new moon (crescent) for the month of Dhul Hijjah (Hajj) has been sighted and Muslims in Sri Lanka will celebrate Eid ul Adha festival on June 17.

“Today, on 29th Zil Qadha 1445 Al Hijri, the moon of the month of Zil-Hijja was sighted. Therefore, June 8, 2024 will be the first date of Dhul-Hijjah,” Shia Chand Committee announced. “Bakrid will be celebrated on June 17,” Committee Chairman Saif Abbas announced.

Muslims in Canada will also celebrate Eid ul Adha 2024 on June 16, 2024.

Muslims to celebrate Eid ul Adha in Kenya on Sunday June 16, 2024.

Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta announces that the Day of Arafat is on Saturday, June 15, 2024 and Eid Al-Adha will be celebrated on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

With Eid ul Adha 2024 just around the corner, cattle markets have been set up in different areas of Pakistan for Muslims to purchase cows, goats, sheep or camels for sacrifice.

Vendors in Pakistan load off their cattle at a livestock market set up ahead of the Muslims’ festival of Eid al-Adha in Karachi, Pakistan.

Normally those who are eligible to pay zakat are obliged to give qurbani. The Hanafi school of thought states that it is obligatory for – every sane Muslim of mature age (who has reached puberty), non-travelling persons and those who additionally own wealth which is beyond their needs, equal to (or more than) the current level of nisab (87.48 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver).

The Sunnah indicates that the one who wants to offer a sacrifice must refrain from taking anything from his hair, nails or skin from the first day of Dhu’l-Hijjah until he offers his sacrifice, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “When you see the new moon of Dhu’l-Hijjah, if any one of you wants to offer a sacrifice, let him not remove anything from his hair or nails until he has offered his sacrifice.” If a person deliberately takes something (from his hair or nails), he must seek the forgiveness of Allah but he does not have to pay any fidyah (penalty) and his udhiyah is still valid. Whoever needs to remove some of his hair or nails because leaving it will cause him harm, such as a torn nail or a wound in a site covered by hair, should remove it and there is no sin on him if he does so.

On June 06, 2024, Saudi Arabia confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon, indicating the start of Dhul-Hijjah on Friday, June 07, which means that the annual Islamic pilgrimage Hajj 1445 AH-2024 will start on Friday, June 14 while the day of Arafah will be on Saturday, June 15 and Eid ul Adha will fall on Sunday, June 16. Hence, the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MoHRSD) has announced a four-day holiday for the private and non-profit sectors from Saturday, June 15 to Tuesday, June 18.

The Hilal Committee of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) confirms that Eid-ul-Adha 2024 will be celebrated on June 18 corresponding to 10th Dhul Hijjah 1445H, as the crescent moon for Dhul Hijjah was not sighted today i.e. June 07, 2024.

1. Make ghusl (take a shower or bath)
2. Eat breakfast – the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) ate dates before going out to prayer
3. Wear the best clothes you have
4. Apply fragrance/perfume
5. Say the general takbeerat after Fajr prayer
6. Walk to the mosque for Eid prayer – using a different route on the way back
7. Perform Eid prayer in congregation (where safe to do so)
8. Connect with friends and family
9. Exchange gifts

Make sure you give your Qurbani before Eid prayer in order to not miss out!

The Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamad, announced that Saturday, June 15, 2024, will be the Day of Arafah (9th of Dhul Hijjah) while 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 16, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 (𝟏𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 D𝐡𝐮𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐣𝐣𝐚𝐡) 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐢𝐝 𝐀𝐥-𝐀𝐝𝐡𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝟏𝟒𝟒𝟓𝐇 – 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒.

As per the astronomical reports, the crescent moon for Dhul Hijjah 1445 AH is expected to be easily visible in India, Pakistan, Morocco, South Africa, Indonesia, the Far East and other South Asian countries where Muslims are gearing up for the moon sighting tradition tonight. This will mean Dhul Hijjah starting the next day i.e. June 08, 2024 and Eid ul Adha taking place 10 days later i.e. on June 17, 2024.

1. Dhikr

2. Fast the first nine days

3. Recite Qur’an

4. Remember loved ones

5. Pray Tahajjud

6. Give Sadqah

7. Repent (Astagfar)

8. Purify your intentions

9. Offering the udhiya (qurbani)

10. Prepare for Eid

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee in Pakistan has scheduled a Friday meeting at the Pakistan Meteorological Department building in Karachi to sight the crescent or new moon of Dhul Hijjah 1445 AH. Simultaneously, zonal meetings will occur in other provincial capitals of Pakistan, including Islamabad, on June 07, 2024, starting 30 minutes before the maghrib namaz or evening prayer.

As per the Islamic or lunar calendar, June 07, 2024 marks the 29th of Dhul Qadah (the month before Dhul Hijjah) in India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, Sultanate of Brunei and other South Asian nations hence, as per the tradition, Muslims in these countries will be gearing up to sight the Dhul Hijjah crescent moon tonight to determine the date for the upcoming festival of Eid ul Adha. On the other hand, June 07, 2024 marks the 1st of Dhul Hijjah in Saudia Arabia, USA, UAE, UK, Canada and some other Arab and West countries as the crescent moon was sighted on June 06, 2024.

Traditionally, Muslim communities rely on eyewitness testimonies from reliable sources to confirm the sighting of the new moon where local religious authorities or committees often oversee the process and skilled observers are appointed to look for the crescent moon shortly after sunset on the 29th day of the preceding Islamic month. If the moon is sighted and confirmed by these individuals, the announcement of the onset of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah (the twelfth or last month of the Islamic or lunar calendar) is announced and simultaneously, the date of Eid-ul-Adha is declared.

However, if the moon is not sighted, the month of Dhul Hijjah is extended by a day and the moon sighting process is repeated on the following evening after maghrib prayers. In recent years, advancements in technology have facilitated the moon sighting process and many Muslims now use astronomical calculations and scientific data to predict the visibility of the moon accurately.

This approach combines traditional practices with scientific knowledge to determine the start of the Islamic month but it is important to note that different regions or communities may follow different methods and criteria for moon sighting. Some rely solely on local sightings while others consider global sightings or rely on official announcements from designated authorities however, the goal is to ensure the unity and consensus within the Muslim community regarding the start of important Islamic events such as Eid-ul-Adha.

The Day of Arafah holds significant religious and spiritual significance for Muslims worldwide and on this day, pilgrims who are performing Hajj gather at the plain of Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, while those not on Hajj engage in specific rituals and acts of worship. Here are some of the rituals associated with the Day of Arafah – fasting, supplication and dhikr i.e. continuous supplication (du’a) and remembrance of Allah (dhikr), acts of worship at local mosques or homes, giving charity, reflection and repentance, celebration and gratitude to Allah for the blessings of faith, health, family and the opportunity to worship.

It is often assumed that Eid ul Adha falls a day after Hajj however, it is not true. Also, this has never been the norm followed by Muslims all over the world. After the first day of Dhul Hijjah is established, then the tenth day of that month is calculated hence, the date of Eid ul Adha is different for different places. On a more elaborate note, Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, takes place from the 8th day to the 12th day of Dhul Hijjah where on 8th Dhul Hijjah (Yawm at-Tarwiyah), pilgrims begin their Hajj rituals; on 9th Dhul Hijjah (Yawm Arafat), the most significant day of Hajj, pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat to pray and seek forgiveness while on the day of Eid ul Adha i.e. 10th Dhul Hijjah (Yawm an-Nahr), pilgrims perform the ritual of animal sacrifice (Qurbani) to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah. Allah provided a ram to sacrifice instead. Finally, Hajj ends on the 12th day of Dhul Hijjah.

Muslims in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong, Sultanate of Brunei and other South Asian nations will gear up to sight the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah on June 07, 2024, after the maghrib namaz or evening prayers. If the new moon is sighted tonight, Eid-ul-Adha in these countries will be celebrated on June 17, 2024 otherwise on June 18, 2024. This is because the beginning of the Islamic month of Dhu Al-Hijjah marks the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia and is followed by Eid Al Adha on the tenth day.