Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Muhammad Abdul Khabeer Azad searches for the new moon through the telescope. Photo: AFP
The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet today (Thursday) to observe the Shawwal crescent, which marks the end of Ramadan.
The meeting will be held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad after Asr prayers on the rooftop of Ministry of Religious Affairs, Kohsar Block.
Zonal committee meetings will also be held in major cities including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta as well as other parts of the country.
The committees will collect testimonies of moon sightings across Pakistan, which will then be verified before an official announcement is made.
Read more: SUPARCO predicts that Eidul Fitr will probably be celebrated on March 21
Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission had already predicted that Eidul Fitr was likely to fall on March 21 as the chances of sighting the Shawwal crescent on March 19 were considered very low.
“At the time of sunset on March 19, the age of the new moon would be approximately 12 hours and 41 minutes, with an estimated interval of 28 minutes between sunset and moonset along the coastal strip of Pakistan,” the SUPARCO statement said.
The commission stated that the prediction was based on scientific calculations and observations, but emphasized that the relevant religious authority would make the official announcement.
“The final decision on the sighting of the Shawwal crescent and the beginning of Eidul Fitr 1447 AH would be taken by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Pakistan, which is the only competent authority to announce the beginning of Islamic months based on testimonies of credible witnesses and verified observations from across the country,” the statement said.
