Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee to Decide Eid Sighting

The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee in Islamabad is set to meet today to sight the Shawwal crescent, potentially leading to a unified Eid celebration across the Muslim world. While several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Australia, have already announced Eid for tomorrow, the final decision for Pakistan hinges on the moon sighting today.

The committee, led by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, will convene at the Federal Secretariat’s Kohsar Block, with simultaneous meetings at zonal and district levels. Efforts have been made to engage with clerics nationwide to ensure consensus and minimize the possibility of conflicting Eid dates, a recurring issue in the past.

In previous years, differences in moon-sighting evidence have led to varied Eid dates within Pakistan, notably with Peshawar often observing Eid a day earlier. The current coordination aims to prevent such discrepancies and promote unity in Eid celebrations.

Internationally, the crescent was not sighted in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar on Monday, confirming Tuesday as the final day of Ramadan. Australia has officially declared Wednesday as Eid, aligning with other countries' schedules.

The global anticipation for a same-day Eid reflects the significance of moon sighting in Islamic traditions and the efforts to foster harmony in religious observances. As the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee convenes to spot the new moon, the outcome will determine the Eid celebration in Pakistan and potentially synchronize it with the rest of the Muslim world.