French Muslim Leaders Divided on Eid al-Fitr Date, Grand Mosque Sets April 8 Meeting

On Tuesday, the Grand Mosque of Paris set the night of doubt for the determination of the first day of Eid al-Fitr on Monday, April 8. "The Religious Commission responsible for determining and announcing the date of Eid al-Fitr 2024 in France will meet on the evening of the 29th day of Ramadan on Monday, April 8 at 6:00 pm at the Grand Mosque of Paris," it said in a statement, adding that it will organize the day of the celebration "two prayers at 7:30 am and 8:15 am, to respond to the expected large attendance." However, the religious institution does not announce the exact date of Eid al-Fitr. Deduction: it leans towards the so-called method of lunar observation, while the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) is based on astronomical predictions of the lunar cycle, used by many Muslim countries such as Turkey.

According to the Muslim organization chaired by Franco-Moroccan Mohamed Moussaoui, the day of Eid al-Fitr corresponds this year to Wednesday, April 10, 2024. "In accordance with scientific data, the conjunction of the new moon of the month of Shawwal 1445H will take place on April 8, 2024 at 8:21 pm (Paris time). According to the calculation criteria adopted by the CFCM in 2013, the visibility of the new moon will be impossible on the same day, anywhere in the world. Also, the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), announces that: Wednesday, April 10, 2024 is the day of Eid Al Fitr of the year 1445H," it said in a statement. The same date has been retained by the World Center for Astronomy in several Muslim countries including Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Syria, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

The CFCM also announced that the Zakat Al Fitr this year is set at 9 euros per person.