A Bolton mosque will allow devotees to observe Eid on two separate days.

The Zakariyya Jaam’e Masjid on Deane Road has taken this decision after it was evident that some mosques in the town as well as surrounding areas observe Eid based on local and Morocco moon sighting, but the rest celebrate according to the Saudi Arabian moon sighting.

This year, those who follow the sighting of the moon in Saudi Arabia will celebrate Eid on Wednesday and others will celebrate on Thursday.

The mosque conducted meetings and conferences to discuss the moon sighting and announced that it has been decided that everyone will get a chance to offer their prayers, regardless of what they follow. It will set aside Eid prayers for people who wish to follow local moonsighting criteria as well as for those who will follow that of Saudi Arabia.

The timing of celebrations have been a subject of debate almost every year, and disagreements and controversies have resulted in neighbours and families celebrating Eid and beginning Ramadan on different days, The Bolton News reports.

Zakariyya Jaam’e Masjid is reported to be the first in the area to allow the prayers to happen on two different days, something it did during this year’s Ramadan as well.

The Bolton News reports that on Wednesday, June 28, Eid Salah (prayers) at the mosque will take place at 5am, 6am and 10am. On Thursday, Eid prayers will start at 10am (Bayyan-sermon at 9.30am) for those following local moonsighting and Morocco.

The day of Eid-ul-Adha falls on the tenth day in the final (twelfth) month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar; Dhu-al-Hijjah. The day that celebrations fall on is dependent on a legitimate sighting of the moon, following the completion of the annual Holy Pilgrimage of Hajj – which is an obligation for all Muslim’s who fit specific criteria, one of the important Five Pillars of Islam, according to Muslim Aid.

The celebration of Eid-ul-Adha is to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah and his readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail as a test of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness and commitment to obey his Lord’s command. Therefore, Eid-ul-Adha means the festival of sacrifice.