Ramadan 2023: Experts Predict Potential Split on Eid al-Fitr Dates in France

Taking into account the "most accurate scientific data", the Muslim Theological Council of France (CTMF) estimates that "the conjunction (new moon) will take place on Thursday, April 20 at 4:13 GMT (6:13: Paris time) and the necessary conditions for the visual sighting of the new crescent of Shawwal in the world will be met on the same day, Thursday, April 20, from 7:19 PM GMT (8:19 PM: Paris time)". Consequently, the month of Ramadan 2023/1444 will end for Muslims in France on Thursday, April 20 after 29 days, and the first day of the month of Shawwal, corresponding to Eid al-Fitr, will be on Friday, April 21, 2023, the institution said.

If the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) announces the same dates as the CTMF, other federations such as the Great Mosque of Paris simply prefer to indicate that Eid al-Fitr could take place on Friday, April 21, awaiting the decision that will be taken by the Muslim countries, especially Saudi Arabia. With the exception of Turkey, these countries should not announce any other dates than those indicated by the CTMF, based on the method of astronomical calculations. But we will have to wait until Thursday, April 20 to know if Eid al-Fitr will be on Friday, April 21 or Saturday, April 22 according to the countries.

According to a forecast map from the International Astronomical Center (IAC) published by Saphir News, the lunar crescent will be visible to the naked eye on the evening of Thursday, April 20 in the Americas, but theoretically with telescopes in South America, Europe (including France) and West Africa. This year, "visibility will remain very difficult and will require a precise telescope, a professional observer and exceptional weather," said Mohamed Shawkat Odeh, director of the IAC, noting that it is rare "to see the lunar crescent, even with a telescope, from anywhere in the Arab world, unless the aforementioned conditions are met".

For Smaïl Mostefaoui, doctor of planetology, "if we want to remain rational, the Muslim countries (which have adopted the observation method, ed.), except perhaps Morocco, should announce Eid for Saturday, April 22," adding that "the risk of divergence is there" and "great". The expert believes that "it is possible that Saudi Arabia will announce the date of Friday" and that the Muslim federations gathered around the Great Mosque of Paris will follow the date of Saturday, April 22 if it is retained not only by the Saudi kingdom, but also and above all by Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, countries from which many Muslims in France originate.

For their part, the Union of Mosques of France (UMF), the Turkish federations (CCMTF and Milli Görüs) and the CTMF, based on the method of astronomical calculations and the principle of transfer of visibility, have announced Eid for Friday, April 21. In any case, celebrating Eid al-Fitr on that day will not constitute an error for the fasters.