Muharram moon, which marks the beginning of the Islamic year, could not be seen today, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced on Tuesday.
Youm-e-Ashura will be observed on Saturday, July 29, and Muharram begins on Thursday, July 20 – marking the beginning of the new Islamic year.
At the Quetta Deputy Commissioner’s office, Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Moulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad presided over the meeting.
The meeting was attended by Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz and other officials.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the moon will be born at 11:32 pm on July 17 (Monday).
“Muharram’s new moon can be seen on the evening of 18-07-2023, i.e. on 29th of Zilhaj, 1444 AH, based on astronomical parameters”, the PMD said in a notification a day earlier.
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has announced that the Islamic year will begin tomorrow (July 19).
“Zilhaj ends on Tuesday, 1444 Hijri, corresponding to July 18, 2023, according to the Umm Al-Qura calendar. Muharram begins on Wednesday, 1445 Hijri, corresponding to July 19, 2023,” the court announced.