Eid moon spotters pass skills to next generation

Moon spotters were passing their skills to the next generation as Muslims waited for a sighting of the new moon to celebrate Eid.

Families and astronomers gathered at a site known locally as "top of the world" on Gaisby Lane, Shipley, to try to see a slither of the new crescent moon.

Islam follows a lunar calendar with each month starting at the sighting of the moon. Eid al-Fitr is held on the first day of the 10th month of the calendar marking the end of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to sundown.

Opinions on when to celebrate Eid vary among British Muslims - some follow guidance from Saudi Arabia while others look to the nearest Muslim country, Morocco.

The cloudy weather meant the moon was not spotted in the UK on Thursday so the New Moon Society declared Eid on Saturday, but it was seen in Saudi Arabia and Morocco and many Muslims celebrated Eid on Friday.

The New Crescent Society is a British grassroots astronomy network founded in 2016, which seeks to unite British Muslims by following a sighting of the moon in the UK.

Organiser Hamza Mutahir Khan, who has been spotting the moon every month for six years, said the network was growing and becoming more recognised.

"Six years ago there was only two or three people and over the years it's been a communal thing with the community getting to do it more often," he said.

"The mission and the vision is to put the whole of English Muslims regardless of background under one moon, as Muslims together.

"If you don't want to import or outsource the moon, there's always the moon above us to follow."

Erin McNeill, physics engagement lead at the University of Leeds, said she had enjoyed working with the society and meeting moon sighters from across the country.

"We live in Bradford, this is one of the most important times in our city. It's been so wonderful to see so many families and young people coming together to sight the new moon," she said.

"The beauty of a united British calendar is that you would be able to have this network across the country and celebrate Eid on one day."

"Enthusiastic astronomer" Nazish was out moon spotting with her three nieces and nephews and said she wanted to pass on the skill.

"We came here for the first time last year and what they enjoyed is trying to understand the sunnah [Islamic traditions] and understanding why we try to find the moon ourselves, and why we try to follow the footsteps of the prophet (sa Sallam)," she said.

"I really want to pass on that knowledge to them so they can pass on that knowledge to their generation going forward, inshallah."