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This was contained in a tweet by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, via its verified Twitter handle @FAHR_UAE.
“With the Hijri new year holiday being shifted to Thursday, residents can enjoy another longer weekend this month,” Gulf News stated.
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This is as Saudi Arabia announced it will allow 60,000 vaccinated residents of the kingdom to perform the annual hajj.
The hajj ministry said this year’s pilgrimage would be “open for nationals and residents of the kingdom, limited to 60,000 pilgrims”, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.
The pilgrimage, scheduled to be held at the end of July, would be limited to those who have been vaccinated and are below 65 years of age with no chronic illnesses, it said.
The hajj – a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime — typically packs millions of pilgrims into congested religious sites and could be a major source of contagion.
“In light of what the whole world is witnessing with the coronavirus pandemic… and the emergence of new variants, the relevant authorities have continued to monitor the global health situation,” the hajj ministry said.
“Considering the large crowds that perform hajj, spending long periods of time in multiple and specific places… required the highest levels of health precautions,” it added in the statement carried by SPA.
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The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged Muslims to look out for the crescent (moon) of Shawwal, 1442 AH tonight.
He gave the directive in a statement issued by NSCIA Deputy Secretary-General, Prof. Salisu Shehu.
The sighting of the moon of Shawwal, according to Islamic tradition, ends Ramadan and ushers in Eid-al-Fitr.
“If the crescent is actually sighted by informed persons on Tuesday night and His Eminence is so advised by the experts, he would address the press to declare Wednesday, May 12, as the first day of Shawwal (Eid day).
“If, however, the crescent is not sighted on Tuesday night, Thursday, May 13, automatically becomes the first of Shawwal, 1442 AH (Eid day),” he said.
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