CCI to decide on lunar calendar after Eid

Ayaz says final opinion cannot be given without the advice of the religious scholars


Our Correspondent May 28, 2019
PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Council of Islamic Ideology (CCI) Chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz has said that the lunar calendar developed by the Ministry of Science and Technology will be reviewed after Eid, after which a decision would be taken about it.

“Final opinion cannot be given without the advice of the religious scholars,” Ayaz said, adding that the meeting to obtain the opinion of religious scholars would be called after Eid.

Furthermore, he insisted that the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee remained a key part in determining Eid despite the presence of the lunar calendar.

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Federal Science Minister Fawad Chaudhry had criticised several Islamic scholars over their moon-sighting procedure, while promising to prepare the lunar calendar before the start of Ramazan this year.

“It is not sane to spend 3-4 million rupees for the sighting of the moon and instead guidance should be taken from his ministry,” he had said before submitting a five-year calendar to the CCI.

He had said that before issuing the lunar calendar, religious scholars would be consulted and taken into confidence. “After taking opinion from the CII, the calendar will be sent to the federal cabinet for approval,” he stated.

He also invited renowned clerics Mufti Muneebur Rehman and Shahabuddin Popalzai to see “how the moon cycle works”.

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