When does Dhul-Hijjah begin astronomically and will it coincide with the weekend?

Arab and Islamic countries will observe the crescent moon of Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH after sunset on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, to determine the start date of this year's Hajj rituals, including the Day of Arafah and Eid al-Adha.

When does Dhul-Hijjah begin astronomically and will it coincide with the weekend?

According to astronomical calculations, the central conjunction (birth of the crescent) will occur at dawn on Tuesday at 6:02 a.m. Saudi Arabia and Jordan time. This means that the crescent will be over 12 hours old at sunset, which is sufficient for the crescent to be visible to the naked eye under clear skies.

Accordingly, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, is expected to be the first day of Dhu al-Hijjah astronomically, with the Day of Arafah falling on Thursday, June 5, and Eid al-Adha falling on Friday, June 6, 2025, the tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah, meaning that the first day of Eid will fall on a holiday.

Here are some astronomical details about the investigation process:

Astronomical conditions in Jordan:

• Crescent birth: 06:02 AM
• Sunset: 7:35
• Moonset: 8:22
• Crescent stay on the horizon after sunset: 47 minutes
• 13 hours and 33 minutes

Astronomical conditions in Mecca:

• Crescent birth: 06:02 AM
• Sunset: 6:57 PM
• Sunset: 7:36 PM
• Crescent stay: 39 minutes
• Crescent age: 12 hours and 55 minutes