Eid moon spotters pass skills to next generation

## Summary
Eid moon spotters pass skills to next generation Just now Share Save Aisha Iqbal , Bradford and Grace Wood , Yorkshire Share Save Aisha Khan/BBC Eisa Faaris Khan, 12, was out looking for the moon with his family Moon spotters were passing their skills to the next generation as Muslims waited for a sighting of the new moon to celebrate Eid. Eid al-Fitr is held on the first day of the 10th month of the calendar marking the end of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to sundown. Organiser Hamza Mutahir Khan, who has been spotting the moon every month for six years, said the network was growing and becoming more recognised. "Six years ago there was only two or three people and over the years it's been a communal thing with the community getting to do it more often," he said. "The mission and the vision is to put the whole of English Muslims regardless of background under one moon, as Muslims together. "If you don't want to import or outsource the moon, there's always the moon above us to follow." Aisha Khan/BBC The moon has to be seen by the naked eye for Eid to begin Erin McNeill, physics engagement lead at the University of Leeds, said she had enjoyed working with the society and meeting moon sighters from across the country. "We live in Bradford, this is one of the most important times in our city. It's been so wonderful to see so many families and young people coming together to sight the new moon," she said. "The beauty of a united British calendar is that you would be able to have this network across the country and celebrate Eid on one day." Aisha Khan/BBC Zacky Khan, 5, and his dad Woody Khan see if they can spot the moon "Enthusiastic astronomer" Nazish was out moon spotting with her three nieces and nephews and said she wanted to pass on the skill. "We came here for the first time last year and what they enjoyed is trying to understand the sunnah [Islamic traditions] and understanding why we try to find the moon ourselves, and why we try to follow the footsteps of the prophet (sa Sallam)," she said. "I really want to pass on that knowledge to them so they can pass on that knowledge to their generation going forward, inshallah." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds , catch up with the latest episode of Look North .

## Article Content
Eid moon spotters pass skills to next generation
Just now
Share
Save
Aisha Iqbal
,
Bradford
and
Grace Wood
,
Yorkshire
Share
Save
Aisha Khan/BBC
Eisa Faaris Khan, 12, was out looking for the moon with his family
Moon spotters were passing their skills to the next generation as Muslims waited for a sighting of the new moon to celebrate Eid.
Families and astronomers gathered at a site known locally as "top of the world" on Gaisby Lane, Shipley, to try to see a slither of the new crescent moon.
Islam follows a lunar calendar with each month starting at the sighting of the moon. Eid al-Fitr is held on the first day of the 10th month of the calendar marking the end of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to sundown.
Opinions on when to celebrate Eid vary among British Muslims - some follow guidance from Saudi Arabia while others look to the nearest Muslim country, Morocco.
The cloudy weather meant the moon was not spotted in the UK on Thursday so the New Moon Society declared Eid on Saturday, but it was seen in Saudi Arabia and Morocco and many Muslims celebrated Eid on Friday.
The New Crescent Society is a British grassroots astronomy network founded in 2016, which seeks to unite British Muslims by following a sighting of the moon in the UK.
Organiser Hamza Mutahir Khan, who has been spotting the moon every month for six years, said the network was growing and becoming more recognised.
"Six years ago there was only two or three people and over the years it's been a communal thing with the community getting to do it more often," he said.
"The mission and the vision is to put the whole of English Muslims regardless of background under one moon, as Muslims together.
"If you don't want to import or outsource the moon, there's always the moon above us to follow."
Aisha Khan/BBC
The moon has to be seen by the naked eye for Eid to begin
Erin McNeill, physics engagement lead at the University of Leeds, said she had enjoyed working with the society and meeting moon sighters from across the country.
"We live in Bradford, this is one of the most important times in our city. It's been so wonderful to see so many families and young people coming together to sight the new moon," she said.
"The beauty of a united British calendar is that you would be able to have this network across the country and celebrate Eid on one day."
Aisha Khan/BBC
Zacky Khan, 5, and his dad Woody Khan see if they can spot the moon
"Enthusiastic astronomer" Nazish was out moon spotting with her three nieces and nephews and said she wanted to pass on the skill.
"We came here for the first time last year and what they enjoyed is trying to understand the sunnah [Islamic traditions] and understanding why we try to find the moon ourselves, and why we try to follow the footsteps of the prophet (sa Sallam)," she said.
"I really want to pass on that knowledge to them so they can pass on that knowledge to their generation going forward, inshallah."
Listen to highlights from
West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds
, catch up with the latest
episode of Look North
.
Related stories
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'I can't celebrate Eid when my family's suffering in Lebanon'
Eid al-Fitr
Shipley
Astronomy
Bradford

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- Organiser Hamza Mutahir Khan, who has been spotting the moon every month for six years, said the network was growing and becoming more recognised. "Six years ago there was only two or three people and over the years it's been a communal thing with the community getting to do it more often," he said. "The mission and the vision is to put the whole of English Muslims regardless of background under one moon, as Muslims together. "If you don't want to import or outsource the moon, there's always the moon above us to follow." Aisha Khan/BBC The moon has to be seen by the naked eye for Eid to begin Erin McNeill, physics engagement lead at the University of Leeds, said she had enjoyed working with the society and meeting moon sighters from across the country. "We live in Bradford, this is one of the most important times in our city.

### Areas for Consideration
N/A

### Implications
- Organiser Hamza Mutahir Khan, who has been spotting the moon every month for six years, said the network was growing and becoming more recognised. "Six years ago there was only two or three people and over the years it's been a communal thing with the community getting to do it more often," he said. "The mission and the vision is to put the whole of English Muslims regardless of background under one moon, as Muslims together. "If you don't want to import or outsource the moon, there's always the moon above us to follow." Aisha Khan/BBC The moon has to be seen by the naked eye for Eid to begin Erin McNeill, physics engagement lead at the University of Leeds, said she had enjoyed working with the society and meeting moon sighters from across the country. "We live in Bradford, this is one of the most important times in our city.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers moon, eid, khan topics. Notable strengths include discussion of moon. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 577.