By Mohammad Ghazal and AFP, Jordan Times

A cleric looks through a telescope installed in the vicinity of King Hussein Ben Talal Mosque in Amman to watch for the new moon of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Muslim lunar calendar, on Monday. Muslims mark Eid Al Fitr on the first of Shawwal (Photo by Abdullah Ayoub)

AMMAN – Tuesday is the first day of Eid Al Fitr, the feast marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, according to a statement by Chief Islamic Justice Ahmad Hilayel on Monday.

Although the crescent of the new lunar month of Shawwal was not sighted in Jordan, the Kingdom will rely on the sighting in Saudi Arabia out of keenness to unify Muslims, Hilayel said in an unprecedented statement.

“Although the crescent was not spotted anywhere in Jordan, and since it was spotted in Mecca and out of unity among the Muslim countries and to be united in starting Eid Al Fitr, we will mark Eid Al Fitr along with Saudi Arabia on Tuesday,” he said at a ceremony at Amman’s King Hussein Ben Talal Mosque at iftar time on Monday.