Towards a United Eid In The UK Survey Results

Are you a UK resident?
Yes (99.5%); No (0.5%)

When did you celebrate last Eid-ul Adha (1439 AH)?
21 August 2018 (37.3%); 22 August 2018 (62.7%)

What was the main reason for doing Eid on the above date?
Following: Local Masjid (49.7%); Extended Family (7.6%);
Organisation (20.6%); Other reasons (22.1%)

Other reason for doing Eid on the above date? (sample)
Summary: Most reasons were following actual moon sighting;
other reasons were following Regent's Park and/or Saudi Arabia

Are you willing to do moon sighting from your town?
Yes (71.9%); No (28.1%)

Are you willing to organise moon sighting training in your town?
Yes (44.9%); No (55.1%)

Are you a member of a Masjid Committee/Trustees?
Yes (22.2%); No (77.8%)

Are you an Imam or Alim (Maulana/Mufti)?
Yes (11.4%); No (88.6%)

What is your suggestion for a United Eid next year (1440 AH)? (sample 1)
Many suggested to do moon sighting training throughout the UK

What is your suggestion for a United Eid next year (1440 AH)? (sample 2)
Others suggested making duaa & organise a UK conference

Do you have any other comment (not included above)?
1. "This issue is not the domain of Alims or Muftis. It is strictly the domain of scientists and those people who have knowledge of the workings of the universe, especially the movements of our Sun, Earth and our Moon. We should not follow the Saudi calendar just as we do not follow the Saudi salah times. Muslims in the UK must create a calendar for the UK and not import any from another country."
2. "Local mosques group together and have allegiances to each other but not the hukm of Rasool Allah عليه الصلاة والسلام. This must be tackled by the senior representatives and ulema of these organisations."
3. "I love to follow nearest Muslim country from UK, which I believe is Morocco just because Saudi Arabia is so far from UK."
4. "We can’t rely on seeing the moon in UK as we may not see it for a few days after it has been born."

Note: The amber and green coloured texts above indicate the comments are from those who did Eid-ul Adha 1439 on 21 and 22 August 2018, respectively.

Conclusion

The above results show most people (who responded to the survey) have celebrated Eid with local/regional moon sighting as per Sunnah and proposed more training throughout the UK. Others suggested a national conference of specialist scholars to review the current practice. Therefore, it is suggested all UK regions should organise a local moon sighting training session within 6 months (October 2018 - March 2019), followed by a National Moon Sighting Conference in April 2019 (Shaban 1440), inshaAllah.

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