Shafaqna Pakistan: Muharram-ul-Haram 1448 AH is expected to commence in Pakistan on Wednesday, June 17, as astronomical calculations indicate that the new moon is unlikely to be visible anywhere in the country on the evening of June 15.
Khalid Ejaz Mufti, Secretary General of the Ruet-e-Hilal Research Council, said on Sunday that the new moon will be born at 7:54am Pakistan Standard Time (PST) on June 15. However, by sunset that day, the moon’s age will be less than 12 hours throughout Pakistan, well below the minimum age generally considered necessary for crescent visibility.
He further explained that the time gap between sunset and moonset is another key factor in determining the possibility of sighting the crescent. On June 15, this interval is expected to be around 37 minutes in Karachi and 42 minutes in Peshawar. Despite these timings, the relatively young age of the moon is expected to make crescent sighting highly unlikely.
According to Mufti, the crescent will not be visible on the evening of June 15 even under clear weather conditions, whether with the naked eye, binoculars, or telescopes.
The Ruet-e-Hilal Research Council, therefore, expects Muharram 1, 1448 AH to fall on Wednesday, June 17, after the completion of 30 days of Zil Hajj 1447 AH.
He, however, clarified that the official and Shariah-based announcement regarding the sighting of the Muharram moon and the commencement of the new Islamic year will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
Source: Express Tribune
