Morocco’s Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs said on Friday that the first day of Dhu al-Qa’dah 1447 AH will fall on Sunday, April 19, after the crescent moon was not sighted.
The ministry said it monitored the crescent on the evening of Friday, corresponding to the 29th day of Shawwal, through its national network of observers, including regional religious delegates and units of the Royal Armed Forces, and confirmed that the moon had not been seen.
As a result, the month of Shawwal will complete 30 days, with the new Islamic month beginning on Sunday, in line with Morocco’s established moon sighting procedure.
The announcement follows the same method used to determine the start of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr earlier this year, where official confirmation is based on physical observation rather than astronomical calculation.
Dhu al-Qa’dah is the eleventh month of the Islamic calendar and one of the four sacred months during which warfare is traditionally prohibited. It precedes Dhu al-Hijjah, the month of the Hajj pilgrimage and Eid al-Adha.
Morocco relies on a centralized system for moon sighting, coordinated by the ministry and supported by local observation committees across the country. The approach ensures a unified national calendar and differs from some countries that incorporate astronomical forecasts into official determinations.
The ministry concluded its statement with prayers for King Mohammed VI, the royal family and the Moroccan people, in line with standard official communications on religious calendar announcements.
The confirmation sets the timeline for upcoming religious observances, with the next key date being the start of Dhu al-Hijjah, which determines the timing of Hajj and Eid al-Adha later in the year.
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