A misleading claim circulating on social media platforms in Libya asserted that the country's Supreme Committee for Fatwa had announced that Eid al-Fitr would fall on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. The claim, which garnered significant attention and engagement, suggested that only one day of fasting would be required after Eid to complete the 29 days of Ramadan. However, an investigation by Annir found that this claim was unfounded and misleading.
According to the official Facebook page of the Supreme Committee for Fatwa, affiliated with the Libyan Government and the General Authority for Endowments, a statement released on April 6, 2024, clarified that if the crescent moon of Shawwal is sighted on Monday, the 28th of Ramadan, then Tuesday would be Eid al-Fitr, and people would be required to fast for one day to complete the 30 days of Ramadan. The statement emphasized that this was not an official announcement of the Eid date but rather an explanation of the legal procedures to be followed in case of moon sighting.
The investigation also revealed that a similar claim was circulating on various social media platforms, including here, here, and here. Annir's research found that the claim was not supported by any credible sources and was, in fact, a misinterpretation of the Supreme Committee's statement. The committee's statement was intended to provide clarity on the procedures for determining the Eid date, not to announce a specific date.
Meanwhile, the Vision Institute for Space Sciences and its Applications released a statement on April 5, 2024, providing astronomical data on the conjunction of the moon and sun, which would occur on Monday, April 8, 2024, at 20:20 Libyan time. The institute explained that this event would result in a solar eclipse visible from western Europe, North America, and other regions, making it impossible to sight the crescent moon of Shawwal on Monday, April 8, 2024, in countries that started Ramadan on March 11, 2024, such as Saudi Arabia.
The Vision Institute's statement also noted that countries that began Ramadan on March 12, 2024, like Libya, would conduct moon sighting on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, and therefore, Eid al-Fitr would fall on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in most Arab countries and Islamic nations. This information contradicts the social media claims that Eid al-Fitr would be on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
In conclusion, Annir's investigation found that the social media claim about the Eid al-Fitr date was misleading and unfounded. The Libyan government's statement was intended to provide clarity on the procedures for determining the Eid date, not to announce a specific date. The institute's astronomical data also supported the conclusion that Eid al-Fitr would likely fall on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
Annir has classified the claim as misleading, as it used information out of context to spread false information. The organization emphasized the importance of verifying information through credible sources to avoid spreading misinformation.
Key points
- The Libyan government's Supreme Committee for Fatwa did not officially announce that Eid al-Fitr would fall on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
- The committee's statement was intended to provide clarity on the procedures for determining the Eid date, not to announce a specific date.
- Astronomical data suggests that Eid al-Fitr is likely to fall on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in most Arab countries and Islamic nations.
