To avoid a repeat of 2006 when ‘Eid-ul-Fitr’ was celebrated on two days in the entire country due to confusion over the sighting of the moon, noted Shia cleric and All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) vice-president Maulana Kalbe Sadiq has made it clear that he would announce the date a month in advance this time. His decision has, however, invited criticism from other clerics who are terming it “anti-Islamic”. Eid falls in October this year.

The previous year’s announcement of forming a central chand committee — the body which will announce the sighting of the moon and the date of Eid — has also not materialised as the clerics are finding it “not feasible”.

Maulana Khalid Rashi Firnagmehli, who announces the sighting of the moon and the date of Eid-ul-Fitr in Lucknow, told The Indian Express: “Sadiq’s announcement is against the Islam. He took the decision last year also but it failed. He had announced the date (September 25) of Eid-ul-Fitr in advance, but it was celebrated on September 23 in 2006.”

He said even the Shia community in Lucknow and many other parts of UP, including Jaunpur, Sultanpur, Barabanki and other districts, celebrated Eid on September 24 last year.

About the confusion over the sighting of the moon, Maulana Khalid, who is also the Imam of Aishbagh Eidgah, said modern techniques such as e-mail and mobile phones should be used to keep in touch with the ulemas of other cities.