Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta says Sunday 1st day of Eid al-Fitr Islamic holiday

CAIRO, 22 May 2020: Egypt's Dar al-Ifta announced, Friday that Eid al-Fitr Islamic holiday will start, Sunday, May 24.

The announcement came by Egypt's Grand Mufti Shawki Allam who explained that the new moon crescent has not been sighted after the sunset of Friday, which makes Saturday the last day of the holy month of Ramadan and Sunday will be the first day of the month of Shawal, and first day of Eid al-Fitr.

In Eid al-Fitr religious holiday, Muslims all over the world celebrates the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan.

The Islamic holiday usually is an occasion for social gatherings and celebrations; however, this year and due to Coronavirus, [COVID-19], no gatherings or outings will be seen as usual in the streets according to the government restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus.

On May 17, Egypt's Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli announced a bundle of measures as part of the state’s plan to restore normal life amid the coronavirus crisis, including the situation during Islamic Eid Al-Fitr holiday.

In a press conference attended by a number of ministers, Madbouli said the world started to move toward plans to "co-exist" with the coronavirus, so the Egyptian state and people have to work on restoring normal life, while taking into consideration some preventive measures.

During Eid, all shopping centers, malls, restaurants, beaches and parks will be closed, Madbouli said. Also, public transportation will be halted.

A night curfew between 5 p.m and 6 a.m. will be imposed between Sunday, May 24th and Friday, May 29th, he added.

As Muslims gather during the Eid prayers twice a year in massive numbers inside and around mosques, Madbouli said the Eid prayers will not be held this year as they will only be broadcast from one of the state's mosques, with the attendance of few employees who work in this mosque.