Ramadan nears end

Area Muslims no longer have to call local mosque hotlines or check Web sites near midnight in anticipation of Eid ul-Fitr, the holiday following a month of fasting from dawn to dusk.

Hopefully.

Now, several months in advance, the Fiqh Council of North America declares a specific day that will mark the beginning and end of Ramadan based on astronomical calculations.

In August, the Fiqh Council met and declared Eid ul-Fitr would be Saturday, said Muzammil Siddiqi, the council's chairman.

The council decided to declare the holidays in advance for the first time, mainly because it's permissible by Islamic law and it's convenient.

Muslims now don't have to stay up late and wait for the new moon to be sighted, since the Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles.

They don't have to book two prayer halls not knowing when the official day will be.

And they can give schools and employers advance notice of the holiday.

So far, most local mosques, including the Islamic Foundation of Villa Park, have tagged along with the council's decision.

"Eid is on Saturday," said Abdul Hameed Dogar, director of the Villa Park mosque. "There's no possibility of sighting the moon on Thursday."

Although Siddiqi and Dogar said the possibility of sighting the moon tonight and Eid ul-Fitr being Friday is not scientifically possible, last year many area mosque leaders sighted the moon a day earlier than the Fiqh Council's pre-determined date. Although the council celebrated the holiday as they had scheduled, many others celebrated a day early.

Siddiqi said the Fiqh council never insists everyone follows their decision.

"We're giving them the possibility," he said, "and it's up to them if they want to follow."

This week concludes the month of Ramadan, and on Eid ul-Fitr Muslims will unite for a morning prayer. Afterward, many will indulge in ethnic foods and socialization with family and friends.