LAHORE MIRROR — The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, led by Chairman Moulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad, convened on Tuesday to sight the Muharram moon, which signifies the commencement of the Islamic New Year, 1445 AH.
However, the moon sighting was unsuccessful, indicating that the first day of Muharram will fall on Thursday, July 20. As a result, Youm-e-Ashura, a significant observance, will be observed on Saturday, July 29.
The committee meeting took place at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Quetta and was attended by Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz and other officials. Prior to the meeting, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had predicted that the moon would be born on the crossing conjunction point at 11:32 pm on Monday, July 17.
According to astronomical parameters, there was only a slight chance of sighting the new moon of Muharram on the evening of July 18, corresponding to the 29th of Zilhaj, 1444 AH, as stated in a PMD notification issued a day earlier.
On a related note, the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia announced that the Islamic year in the Kingdom would commence on Wednesday, July 19. According to the Umm Al-Qura calendar, Tuesday marked the last day of the month of Zilhaj, 1444 Hijri, corresponding to July 18, 2023.
Subsequently, Wednesday will be the first day of the month of Muharram, 1445 Hijri, corresponding to July 19, 2023, in Saudi Arabia.
