RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court announced on Wednesday that the ritual of standing at Arafat, which marks the climax of the annual pilgrimage of Hajj, will be on Friday, July 8. The first day of Eid Al-Adha will be on Saturday, July 9, the Saudi Press Agency reported quoting the Supreme Court statement. According to the statement, the sighting of the crescent moon of the month of Dhul Hijjah has been confirmed at the Tamir Observatory, near Riyadh, on Wednesday evening. Accordingly, Thursday, June 30, will be the first day of the month of Dhul Hijjah. The Supreme Court had earlier called on all Muslims across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to sight the crescent of the month of Dhu Al-Hijjah on Wednesday evening, Dhu-Al Qadah 30, 1443 AH, corresponding to June 29, 2022. In a statement issued on Monday, the Supreme Court called on whoever sights the crescent by naked eyes or by using telescopes to report to the nearest court and register the testimony, or report to the nearest center to help reach the nearest court. Meanwhile, several Muslim countries announced the beginning of their celebration of the Eid Al-Adha either on July 9 or July 10, depending on the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent on Wednesday evening. The first day of Eid Al-Adha will be on July 9 in most Arab and Muslim countries while many South East Asian countries will start the celebrations on Sunday, July 10. Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country, Malaysia, and Brunei announced that their Eid Al-Adha celebrations will start on Sunday, in view of not sighting the Dhul Hijjah crescent on Wednesday evening. The month of Dhul Hijjah will begin on Friday in these countries.
