Island Sultanates and Swahili-Arab Islamic Tradition
The Union of the Comoros—known in Arabic as Juzur al-Qamar (the Moon Islands)—possesses a rich Islamic heritage rooted in the historical Shiraz and Hadhrami trading sultanates. Islam arrived in the archipelago in the 7th and 8th centuries. The Old Friday Mosque in Moroni, with its sea-facing whitewashed walls and stone minarets, represents the living center of Shafi'i scholarship and Sufi brotherhoods (Shadhiliyya).
Island-Wide Crescent Verification
Appropriately for the 'Moon Islands', crescent sighting holds sacred civic importance. On the 29th of each lunar month, the Office of the Grand Mufti directs observation teams positioned along the coastlines of Grande Comore (Ngazidja), Anjouan (Ndzuwani), and Mohéli (Mwali). Once visual confirmation is verified, the Grand Mufti declares the new month over national radio (ORTC).
Religious Culture and State Observances
With 98% of the population adhering to Sunni Islam, the Hijri calendar governs national life. Public holidays include Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, the Islamic New Year (1st Muharram), Mawlid an-Nabi, and Isra and Mi'raj. The Grand Mariage (Anda) and community religious gatherings are carefully scheduled according to auspicious Hijri months.