Muslims across the country will celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Monday. The new moon was sighted in South Africa last night. The announcement was made to hundreds of worshippers who gathered in Cape Town.
Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated after the month-long fast of Ramadan, when Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk.
The month of Ramadan is also a period of prayer and reflection. The president of the Muslim Judicial Council Sheikh Riad Fataar says, “What the Muslim Judicial Council confirm tonight is a collaborative working together working with what is called ulama council of south africa we have a hilaal a moon sighting group where people go out into various parts of south africa to see if they can sight the moon so in cape town as you can see it’s over cast other places in south africa it’s overcast but Alhamdulillah in parts of south in Musina and all these places the moon was sighted.”
Plight of Palestinians
Muslim worshipers say that while they will be celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr today, their thoughts are still with the plight of the Palestinians.
Worshipers gathered in Sea Point in Cape Town last night for the sighting of the moon, which heralds the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
The day will be observed with early morning prayers, acts of charity such as feeding the needy, and visiting family members, as well as the graves of loved ones.
Worshipers are calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza. “We are going to enjoy Eid in South Africa, but the people in Palestine are not going to enjoy it the way we are going to enjoy it, but all that we can say is sabar and contentment in the hearts of those people in Gaza.”
“It’s wonderful to see how the people of South Africa come together, especially around the brothers and sisters of Islam come together and who bring us some sort of comfort and belonging in seeing that.”
Meanwhile, the South African National Zakah Fund on the Cape Flats was giving food to needy families during Ramadan, preparing to ensure that thousands of needy families have a meal to celebrate Eid.
