Ministry for Religious Affairs stands with Ulema over moon-sighting controversy

Noorul Haq Qadri says right of moon-sighting lies with Ruet-e-Hilal Committee

LAHORE: Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri on Monday said the ministry stands with Ulema in the wake of the controversy over moon-sighting between the Ministry of Science and Technology and Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.

“The ministry stands with Ulema over the issue of moon-sighting,” said Qadri while presiding over a meeting on the use of advance technology for moon-sighting.

Council of Islamic Ideological Chairman Qibla Ayaz, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman, Mufti Shahab Uddin Popalzai, Qari Hanif Jahlandri, representatives from Wafaqul Madaris and provincial Auqaf and Religious Affairs, members from SUPARCO and Met Office were also present on the occasion.

During the meeting, restructuring of the committee, use of lunar calendar by the science ministry and the dispute on the sighting of moon for Eid was discussed. The opinion from Ulema and the science department’s representatives were sought on the issues.

In addition to the sharia requirements, the minister said religious festivals and societal norms are attached to the process of moon-sighting. “Moon-sighting is part of the traditions of this region,” said Qadri.

He said the Department of Astronomy and Met Office helps in reading the sighting moon and its birth. However the final decision, according to Sharia, lies with the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.

The religious minister lauded the efforts of Ministry of Science and Technology for the formation of the lunar calendar but said the final decision on moon-sighting will be taken by the committee.

It was decided to form a committee under the chairmanship of the minister of religious affairs to resolve the conflicts on the occasion of Eids. The committee will include Qibla Ayaz, Qari Hanif Jahlandri, Mufti Shahab Uddin Popalzai and two representatives of religious affairs ministry.

The conflict started when the science ministry released the date for the commencement of Safar 1441 AH on pakmoonsighting.pk, a website based on the lunar calendar.

The ministry had predicted the beginning of the month of Safar from September 30 (Monday) while according to the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, the new moon was not sighted on Sunday and the Hijri month will commence from October 1 (Tuesday).
However, according to the committee, it had not received any evidence confirming the sighting of the moon from any part of the country.