RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has announced that the Day of Arafah, which marks the climax of the annual Islamic Hajj pilgrimage, will take place on Tuesday, 26 May.
The kingdom’s religious authorities also confirmed that the global Eid al-Adha celebrations—the Festival of Sacrifice—will begin the following day, Wednesday, 27 May.
The announcement follows the official sighting of the crescent moon on Sunday evening, marking Monday, 18 May, as the first day of the sacred Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah.
The Sighting of the Moon
In a statement issued by the Saudi Supreme Court, the kingdom’s Crescent Sighting Department confirmed it had finalized the calendar dates after reviewing testimonies from official moon-sighting committees and witnesses across the country.
Haramain Info, the official media channel for Islam’s two holiest sites in Mecca and Medina, confirmed the tracking on social media platform X: “The crescent moon for Dhul Hijjah 1447 has been sighted in Saudi Arabia… May Allah grant the pilgrims a safe Hajj.”
The Supreme Court offered prayers for the Saudi monarch, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, praising the kingdom’s logistical preparations to host millions of international visitors.
A Global Event
Dhul Hijjah is the 12th and final month of the lunar Islamic calendar, regarded as one of the holiest periods for Muslims worldwide.
The announcement sets off a synchronized countdown for Islamic communities globally:
- The Pilgrimage: Millions of pilgrims already arriving in Mecca will begin moving toward the tent city of Mina in the coming days.
- The Climax: On 26 May, pilgrims will gather at Mount Arafat, praying from dawn until dusk in what is considered the core ritual of the Hajj.
- The Feast: On 27 May, Muslims worldwide who are not participating in the pilgrimage will join in celebrating Eid al-Adha by slaughtering livestock to commemorate the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son.
Nigeria Aligns Dates
In Nigeria, home to one of Africa’s largest Muslim populations, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, similarly declared Monday, 18 May, as the start of the holy month.
By aligning with the Saudi sightings, Nigerian authorities have ensured that local Eid celebrations will mirror the timeline in the Arabian Peninsula, allowing thousands of Nigerian pilgrims currently in Saudi Arabia to coordinate their rites in tandem with their families back home.
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