Cape Town Muslims braved cold weather at Three Anchor Bay in the hope of sighting the new moon to mark the end of Ramadaan.
|||Cape Town - Around a thousand Cape Town Muslims braved cold weather at Three Anchor Bay in the hope of sighting the new moon to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadaan.
But heavy cloud cover made the task difficult, and another day of fasting was declared.
Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday by Muslims across the country.
After breaking their fast just before 6.15pm, Muslims gathered at Three Anchor Bay to pray and to look for the moon.
But the president of the Crescent Observers Society, Sheik Omar Gabier, said it was not sighted.
“It was a bit overcast, but we were sitting at the best spot to see the new moon and we will respect what Allah decides. He controls the weather and the moon and the stars, and whatever he decides we will respect.”
The announcement was made just after 7pm, and while South African Muslims will have another day of fasting, Muslims in other countries will celebrate the end of the holy month today.
Gabier said they looked for more than 30 minutes for the new moon.
Meanwhile, the NGO SA National Zakah Fund started celebrating Eid Al-Fitr early by handing out food parcels to the less fortunate.
Spokeswoman Sakeena Bock said they started handing out the food parcels almost 10 days ago.
yolisa.tswanya@inl.co.za
Cape Argus