Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to meet on June 15 for Muharram moon sighting

ISLAMABAD: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet on June 15 to sight the Muharram-ul-Haram 1448 AH moon and determine the start of the new Islamic year.

According to an official announcement, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad will preside over the meeting at Iqbal Hall, Badshahi Mosque, Lahore. The committee is expected to examine moon-sighting testimonies received from different parts of the country before issuing an official announcement.

Met Office outlook

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said there is no chance of sighting the crescent on June 15 because the time between the birth of the moon and sunset will not be sufficient for visibility.

In an advisory issued on June 11, the Met Office said weather conditions were expected to remain clear in several parts of the country. However, it said the moon is likely to be born at 7:54am on June 15 and therefore will not be visible by sunset on Zil Hajj 29.

The PMD also shared moonset timings for different parts of the country. It said the moon is expected to set at 7:59pm in Punjab, 8:55pm in Sindh, 8:23pm in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 8:34pm in Balochistan. In Gilgit-Baltistan, the moon is expected to set at 8:00pm, while in Azad Jammu and Kashmir it will remain visible until 8:07pm.

Religious significance

Muharram is considered one of the four sacred months in Islam. Ashura falls on the 10th of Muharram, marking the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), along with his family members in the battle of Karbala.

During Muharram, the faithful hold processions and majalis, while religious scholars address large gatherings across the country.