Muslims in Singapore will celebrate Hari Raya Puasa on Saturday (Apr 22) with Ramadan this year lasting for 30 days, the Mufti of Singapore said on Thursday.

According to astronomical calculations, the crescent moon for the Islamic month of Syawal did not appear after sunset on Thursday, the 29th day of the Islamic month of Ramadan, Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir said in statement.

This signified that Hari Raya Puasa, also known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri, would fall on Saturday.

“As such, I am pleased to announce that the first day of Syawal or Hari Raya Aidilfitri for year 1444H falls on Saturday, Apr 22, 2023,” Dr Nazirudin said.

“I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Muslims in Singapore ‘Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri’.

“I seek your forgiveness for any shortcomings. May our Muslim community stay united in overcoming all challenges with compassion and empathy.”

The climate conditions in Singapore, which are often cloudy, make it generally difficult for the crescent moon to be visible.

Singapore therefore uses a set of criteria commonly agreed upon between the MABIMS countries (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore) to determine new months of the Islamic calendar.

The criteria is based on more than 700 data points of crescent sightings from around the world.

Two parameters during sunset on the 29th day of a month are also taken into consideration – the elevation of the crescent moon and the degree of elongation of the sun and the moon.