Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad leads Muharram moon sighting committee

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is set to meet in Quetta this Saturday to look for the crescent moon signaling the start of Muharram 1446 Hijri. Led by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, the committee will convene to kick off the first month of the Islamic calendar. Meanwhile, zonal and district Ruet-e-Hilal Committee meetings will also take place at their respective locations.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has cautioned that the chances of spotting the Muharram moon on the next day are minimal. According to the PMD's statement on June 20, the new moon of Muharram is expected to appear at the conjunction point at 03:57 PST on July 6. However, astronomical calculations suggest that sighting the new moon on the evening of July 6, corresponding to the 29th of Zilhij 1445 AH, is unlikely. Additionally, the PMD has predicted partly cloudy to cloudy weather conditions in most parts of the country, which could hinder the visibility of the moon during the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee's observation.

As the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee prepares to gather in Quetta for the sighting of the Muharram moon, the PMD's forecast of challenging visibility conditions raises concerns. Stay tuned for updates on the moon-sighting process and the commencement of Muharram 1446 Hijri.