Several Muslim countries to mark Eid al-Fitr on Thursday

SANAA, March 19 (YPA) -Several Muslim-majority countries have announced that Eid al-Fitr will be observed on Thursday, March 1, 2026, following confirmed sightings of the Shawwal crescent on Wednesday evening, highlighting differences in holiday declarations across countries this year.

In Niger, the Supreme Islamic Council confirmed Thursday as the first day of Eid after accepting credible testimonies of sighting of the Shawwal crescent.

Similarly, Afghanistan announced, through its Supreme Court, that the crescent moon had been sighted based on reports from the central moon-sighting committee, officially declaring Thursday as the start of Shawwal.

Mali also joined the list of countries observing Eid on Thursday, after religious leaders confirmed sightings in several regions.

The announcements come as other Arab and Muslim countries, including Yemen, have declared Friday as the first day of Eid, reflecting recurring differences in determining the start of Shawwal due to varying moon-sighting methods and criteria.

Meanwhile, several countries—including Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Jordan, Oman, Morocco, and Iran—are expected to determine the date on Friday based on crescent sighting outcomes.

While Eid al-Fitr remains a unifying religious occasion for Muslims worldwide, differences in its observance continue to be a recurring phenomenon, reflecting diverse jurisprudential approaches and verification methods across the Islamic world.

@E.Y.M