Cotabato City: The Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta’ (BDI) announced Thursday that Muslim religious leaders would conduct the traditional moon sighting on Sunday evening to determine the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and the start of the Eid al-Fitr celebrations. Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulrauf Guialani and BDI officials will lead the observation in Cotabato City, following the Islamic tradition that requires visual confirmation of the new crescent moon.

According to Philippines News Agency, Guialani emphasized the importance of the spiritual lessons gained during Ramadan and urged the community to await the official announcement before making any celebration plans. He stated, “As we prepare to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, let us carry forward the spiritual lessons and divine blessings of this sacred month,” in a statement released by the Bangsamoro Information Office.

The religious authority has clarified that if the moon is sighted on Sunday night, the Eid al-Fitr celebrations will commence on Monday. If not, the fasting will extend through Tuesday, and celebrations will begin afterward. The BDI plans to deploy observation teams to multiple strategic locations across the Bangsamoro region to ensure accurate sighting verification.

Guialani also encouraged worshipers to dedicate Ramadan’s final night to prayer and reflection, reinforcing the spiritual significance of the closing days of the holy month.