Global Eid on Same Day ‘Not Practical’: Mufti Malek

Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Mufti Muhammad Abdul Malek was speaking at the meeting

Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Mufti Muhammad Abdul Malek has said that demands for observing Ramadan and Eid on the same date across the world are neither fully supported by Islamic jurisprudence nor practically feasible.

Speaking at a national seminar in Dhaka on Saturday, the prominent Islamic scholar said the beginning of an Islamic lunar month in Sharia is determined through the sighting of the crescent moon or verified testimony regarding the sighting. If the moon is not seen, the month is completed as 30 days.

He warned that determining Islamic months solely through astronomical conjunctions or pre-calculated lunar calendars, instead of actual moon sighting, amounts to altering established Islamic principles.

Mufti Abdul Malek presented a keynote paper at a seminar titled “Practical Resolution and Sharia Analysis of the Demand for Worldwide Observance of Ramadan and Eid on the Same Day,” organised by Dawatus Sunnah Bangladesh at the auditorium of the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh in the city.

In his address, he said Eid in Islam is not merely a cultural or social festival like celebrations observed by other communities, but an important act of worship closely connected to religious obligations. Therefore, he argued, attempts to treat Eid as a globally synchronised celebration without considering Islamic legal principles are misguided.

The scholar further stated that imposing a single moon-sighting decision on the entire world lacks strong scriptural evidence and contradicts the long-standing scholarly consensus within the Muslim community. He also rejected the idea of using moon sightings from one specific city or country as a universal standard for all regions.

According to him, astronomical calculations may assist in understanding lunar movements, but they are not the decisive authority in determining Islamic dates. He added that even renowned Muslim astronomers throughout history did not support the idea of observing Ramadan and Eid on the same day worldwide.

Mufti Abdul Malek said Islamic rulings must ultimately follow the principles laid down in Sharia, and Muslims are religiously bound to adhere to those guidelines rather than modern assumptions or convenience-based interpretations.

Referring to Bangladesh, he noted that the country has long followed a recognised and widely accepted process for determining Ramadan and Eid dates, and the overwhelming majority of Islamic scholars support that system. He cautioned that changing the established practice without strong religious grounds could create confusion, division and social instability.

He also stressed the importance of respecting the decisions of the National Moon Sighting Committee, which operates under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and is officially entrusted with the responsibility of determining lunar dates in the country. He said Muslims should follow the committee’s decisions as long as there is no clear contradiction with Sharia principles.

The seminar was chaired by Mufti Mahmudul Hasan and attended by leading Islamic scholars, researchers and religious thinkers from across the country.