The authority tasked with monitoring appearance of the crescent affirmed yesterday that the first day of Eid Al-Fiter , that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan falls today. The authority said in a statement spotting of the crescent was confirmed during a meeting, chaired by justice Rashed Al-Sharrah, and grouped the judges Yousef Al-Mutawaa and Ishak Al-Kanderi.

It expressed congratulations to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the government, the citizens and the Muslim nations on the advent of the Eid. The Eid marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, during which Muslims refrain from eating, drinking or sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk. Muslims celebrate the Eid with various festivals and families' gatherings.

In another development, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia congratulated the Islamic World on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr yesterday, calling on Muslims to revive the spirit of compassion and unity among the social fabric. Earlier on, the end of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan was announced by the Saudi Royal Court.

The month of fasting is ended by several days of celebrations which begin today". The King's comments came in a speech delivered on his behalf by the Saudi Minister of Culture and Information Abdulaziz Khoja. King Abdullah also expressed hope the occasion would be a cause for peace, justice and prosperity amongst Arab and Islamic nations.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama is extending greetings to Muslims celebrating Eid Al-Fitr. The president yesterday issued a statement saying he and his wife, Michelle, congratulate Muslims in the US and around on the world on a "blessed day." "As Muslims in the United States and around the world complete the month of Ramadan and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, Michelle and I would like to extend our personal greetings on this joyous occasion," Obama said in a statement.

Even on this festive occasion, Muslims remember those less fortunate, including those impacted by poverty, hunger, conflict, and disease," he added. Obama highlighted Muslims' commitment to collecting and distributing charity and said his administration was "working to ensure that Muslims are able to fulfill their charitable obligations not just during Ramadan, but throughout the year.

In her own message, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stressed that Eid celebrations at the White House, pioneered by her husband Bill Clinton in 1996 when he was president, ensured that "all faiths have a home here in the United States." "This time of self-reflection reminds us that the values of Islam-charity, community, cooperation, compassion-are values which we hold dear as Americans and which have contributed so much to American culture," Obama's top diplomat said.

We know there is more that unites peoples of faith than divides us. So as Ramadan draws to a close, let us hold on to that spirit of community throughout the year to achieve our common goals of peace, prosperity, and stability." Obama, who has Muslim heritage on his father's side of his family, vowed to forge a "new beginning" for Islam and America in a landmark speech to the world's 1.5 billion Muslims in Cairo in June.

Kuwaittimes