How the 2024 solar eclipse impacts the end of Ramadan and the start of Eid

Mariyam Muhammad and Sarah Al-Arshani, Columbus Dispatch
·4 min read

Ramadan sort-of kind-of got an extra day. Well, based on what was once predicted, it technically got an extra day, thanks to the total solar eclipse.

The holy month of Ramadan began on the night of March 10. Muslims worldwide observe the holy month of fasting with spiritual cleansing, self-reflection, acts of kindness and avoiding wrongdoings.

For Muslims across America, the end of Ramadan is a time to rejoice and celebrate, but it can also be a tricky time. However, this year, the end of Ramadan and the start of Eid coincides with the solar eclipse, which could make things a little less confusing.

More: What is Ramadan? When does it happen? What to know about Muslims' favorite time of the year

What is Eid al-Fitr? What to know about the end of Ramadan

Like the start of the holy month, Eid al-Fitr, the holiday commemorating its end is also based on the sighting of the crescent moon. For Muslims living in the U.S. and other countries that are not predominantly Muslim, this means requesting the day off to celebrate is a challenging situation.

Imagine telling your boss you need a day off, but you are not sure if it's going to be Tuesday or Wednesday. You also won't know for sure until the night before because you must wait to see if the crescent moon is actually spotted.

The two holidays follow the Islamic Hijri calendar, a lunar cycle. Each year, the holidays fall about 11 days earlier than the year before because of the lunar cycle. Determining their start always comes down to when the crescent moon is seen in the sky.

For most people in the world, and particularly in the U.S., Ramadan this year began on the evening of Sunday, March 10, with fasting beginning the next morning. Fasting typically lasts 29 or 30 days, making Eid celebrations either Tuesday, April 9, or Wednesday, April 10.

Eid in Arabic means "festival" or "feast," and Fitr means "breaking the fast." Shawwal, the Islamic month that succeeds Ramadan, begins right at the sighting of the crescent moon, or 'Shawwal moon'. The first day of Shawwal brings Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan.

How the total solar eclipse impacts the crescent moon and the start of Eid al-Fitr

On April 8, millions across North America looked up to see the first total eclipse in North America in seven years. In Ohio, it was the first since 1806.

The moon's orbit caused it to completely blot out the sun's disk. A large swath of North America, including several U.S. states, experienced the uncharacteristic daytime darkness. Another total eclipse won't happen again in the US for another 21 years.

The solar eclipse brings a new moon. Experts say it's very challenging to spot the crescent within hours of a new moon. According to the United States Naval Observatory, sighting a lunar crescent within a day of a new moon is "usually difficult."

Eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler told USA TODAY since the eclipse will happen in the early afternoon on Monday, the moon phase will be no more than five to six hours old at sunset, so it "will not be possible to see the crescent Moon that evening."

"The crescent Moon should be visible the following day at sunset, but not on Monday," Zeiler said.

A solar eclipse can only occur during a new moon, so that means Eid won't fall tonight. Muslims in America will have to wait another day to confirm if it's Eid — a crescent moon will most likely beam into the sky Tuesday evening.

The Naval Observatory reported that naked-eye sightings of the crescent have been reliably reported as early as 15.5 hours after a new moon while observers with telescopes have made reliable reports as early as 12.1 hours after a new moon.

"Because these observations are exceptional, crescent sightings this early in the lunar month should not be expected as the norm," the observatory wrote on its website.

While Muslims across the world will still have to wait until Monday night to know for certain, the total solar eclipse and new moon suggest requesting Wednesday off for Eid is a fair bet.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is Eid 2024? Solar eclipse in North America impacts start