In a significant announcement, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee confirmed on Monday that the sighting of the Zil Hajj moon had taken place in Pakistan. As a result, Eid ul Adha, a major religious festival, will be celebrated across the country on Thursday, June 29.
Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, Chairman of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, shared this news during a press conference. He informed the attendees that the first day of Zil Hajj would fall on June 20, which is tomorrow, and Eid ul Adha would be celebrated nationwide on June 29, a Thursday.
This decision was made after the committee received credible testimonies of moon sightings from various cities, including Karachi, Lahore, and others. The meeting of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, SUPARCO, the Department of Meteorology, and the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Prior to this announcement, the Meteorological Office had predicted that the moon would be born on June 18 at 9:37 pm, with the possibility of sighting it on June 19.
It is customary for the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to convene on the 29th day of each Islamic month and declare the official start of the new month after confirming the sighting of the moon.
Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, the crescent moon marking the beginning of Zil Hajj was sighted a day earlier. Consequently, the kingdom is currently observing the first day of the month today, June 19. The holiest day in Islam, known as the Day of Arafah, will occur on Tuesday, June 27, while the first day of Eid ul Adha will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 28, in Saudi Arabia.
As the Zil Hajj moon graces the skies of Pakistan, preparations for Eid ul Adha are underway, with the announcement of the official date allowing Muslims across the nation to plan their festivities and religious obligations accordingly.