Higher Judiciary Council revises start of Dhu Alhijjah

Riyadh, Jan 14, SPA -- The Higher Judiciary Council issued a statement today asserting that the month of Dhu Alhijjah for this year, 1425 H., actually started on Tuesday 11 January 2005.

Therefore, the stand on Arafah will be on Wednesday 19 January 2005 and Eid Aladha will be on Thursday 20 January 2005, the council said.

The council explained that the revision of the start of Dhu Alhijjah was based on witnesses' testimonies indicating that according to the sighting of the crescent, the month of Dhu Alhijjah for this year, 1425 H., actually started on Tuesday 11 January 2005 and not on Wednesday.

The council said it revised the date of the start of the month after witnesses came forward today evening and testified that they saw the crescent of the start of the month on Monday evening proving that the month actually started on Tuesday.

--SPA 2258 Local Time 1958 GMT

Standing on Arafat Now on Jan. 19 Arab News

JEDDAH, 15 January 2005 — The Standing on Arafat which marks the climax of Haj will this year fall on Wednesday, Jan. 19 (Dul Hijjah 9), and not on Thursday, Jan. 20 as announced earlier. Accordingly, Eid Al-Adha (the feast of sacrifice) will be celebrated on Thursday, Jan. 20.

A statement by the Supreme Judiciary Council carried by the Saudi Press Agency yesterday said two men have come forward declaring they have sighted the new moon after sunset on Monday, Jan. 10, and notified the judge who recommended them to the council as trustworthy.

The standing at Mount Arafat, the most important day of the Hajj, will be Wednesday, January 19 and Eid Al-Adha will be Thursday, January 20, the Supreme Judiciary Council announced Friday.

Message From The Saudi Embassy, see link

HAJJ NEWS

2005 News Story

01/14/2005

Date of Eid Al-Adha announced for January 20

The standing at Mount Arafat, the most important day of the Hajj, will be Wednesday, January 19 and Eid Al-Adha will be Thursday, January 20, the Supreme Judiciary Council announced Friday.