UK moonsighting reports came in late on Tuesday night and early on Wednesday morning
10:41, 28 May 2025Updated 16:41, 28 May 2025
The crescent of the new moon that determines Dhul Hijjah and Eid ul Adha, as seen in the UK(Image: Noor TV/Zahid Nawaz)
The date of Eid ul Adha 2025 has been declared in the UK, based on local moonsightings.
British moonsighting groups made their announcements late on Tuesday night (May 27) and early on Wednesday morning (May 28).
It was decided in all cases that the new month of Dhul Hijjah is starting on May 28 and that Eid ul Adha, on the 10th day of that month, will therefore be on Friday, June 6. These are the same dates as in Saudi Arabia.
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The UK Ahlus Sunnah Moonsighting Board, which is based in Birmingham, said in an announcement at 12.33am on Wednesday morning: “The crescent moon has been sighted in many locations in the UK. The 1st of Dhul Hijjah 1446 will begin on Wednesday, 28th May 2025. Eid ul Adha 1446 will be celebrated on Friday, 6th of June 2025.”
The New Crescent Society in the UK also made an announcement. It was based on reports from hundreds of members of the public who were out looking for the crescent moon in towns and cities across the country, including Birmingham.
The society said in a social media post at 11.05pm last night: “The moon was seen today, by naked eye in TWO locations. One location was in Dewsbury, seen by Tahir Dalal, Muhammad Saghir Dar, Muhammad Badat and others. The other location was in York, seen by Yaseen Bikha and Ali Bikha.
“This is a 17-hour moon, and somewhat of a UK record. This is by no means an ordinary moonsighting. Both locations initially had to locate the moon with binoculars, and then saw it with their eyes. Thanks especially to Qamar Uddin at ICOUK, who got the moon in York with his group.
“Thanks again to everyone who has been going out every single month – at the end of this calendar month, we will have completed a full 8 years of moonsighting. And again, today, we have absolutely shown that an Islamic calendar based on local sightings is entirely possible in the UK.”
Stechford Masjid in Albert Road, Birmingham, told BirminghamLive today: “This time, we have one united Eid in the United Kingdom on Friday, June 6th.
“The moon was seen in many parts of the UK to start the new Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah on 28th May, with Eid ul Adha on 6th June. We will have three Eid prayers at Stechford Masjid, Albert Road, at 8am, 9am, and 10am on that day.”
Midlands moonsighting expert Dr Zahid Nawaz (holding microphone, front right) presents the Dhul Hijjah / Eid ul Adha evidence to a packed audience at Noor TV
Birmingham-based Islamic broadcaster Noor TV also announced the Dhul Hijjah and Eid ul Adha dates.
Midlands moonsighting expert Dr Zahid Nawaz, who confirmed the dates for the TV station, said: “Once I had the assurance from all of the major organisations that the crescent moon had been sighted, the announcement was made live on Noor TV.
“It is important to understand that the first requirement is local moonsighting, and if this proves positive, then we would simply announce.
“This is becoming increasingly favourable and I would encourage people to do UK-based moonsighting, which will also assist in compiling observation data.”
Some UK organisations instead follow the announcements from Saudi Arabia, where the same dates were also given this year. On occasion, the two sets of dates have been different, leading to a ‘divided Eid’ for British Muslims.
Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre (GLMCC) in Birmingham, which organises the city’s outdoor Eid gatherings, is among those who align with Saudi reports instead of UK moonsightings. It issued a statement on the date of Dhul Hijjah but has yet to confirm where and when it will hold its annual Eid ul Adha celebrations.
Dhul Hijjah is the 12th and final month in the Islamic calendar. It is also when the Hajj pilgrimage and Day of Arafah take place.
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