Muslims in the UAE and across the Muslim world are expected to witness a rare calendar event in 2039, when Eid will be celebrated three times within the same Gregorian year.
Saudi Arabia's widely known climate and astronomy expert, Dr. Abdullah Al Misnad, explained the reason behind the phenomenon. The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, while the Gregorian calendar follows the solar cycle. The Islamic lunar year is shorter than the Gregorian year by about 11 days.
Because of this difference, Islamic months move forward by around 11 days every year against the Gregorian calendar. Over time, the shift pushes Islamic events, including Ramadan and the two Eids, slowly through all the seasons of the year. After several years, the gap becomes large enough to create rare situations such as three Eids falling within a single Gregorian year.
In 2039, the first Eid will fall at the beginning of the year, followed by another Eid later in the year and then a third one before the year ends. This means Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha will combine to produce three separate Eid days within one calendar year.
Experts say such events highlight the unique nature of the Islamic calendar and its close connection to the moon. While rare, the phenomenon has happened before in history and will happen again in the future. For many Muslims, 2039 promises to be a special year filled with extra celebrations, joy and spiritual significance.
