Here’s the thing: Eid al-Adha doesn’t care about your bank holiday plans. It starts the day after the Day of Arafat, which falls on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah. And guess what? Dhul Hijjah itself kicks off only when the new moon crescent is spotted—with the naked eye, no less.
Imagine trying to organise a family reunion where Uncle Bob has to climb a hill with binoculars before anyone can book the hall. That’s basically how mosques and scholars decide. The UK’s moon-sighting committee will be peering through their telescopes, likely in Manchester, praying the British clouds don’t play tricks.
Pro tip: If the sky is overcast on the 28th or 29th of May 2026, expect a lot of frantic WhatsApp group chats. “Did anyone see it?!” “No, just rain!” “Insha’Allah, tomorrow!” It’s like a lunar version of Waiting for Godot.
