Moon-sighting panel to meet on May 22

If panel receives testimonies, Eidul Fitr is likely to be on May 23

PESHAWAR: The Qasim Ali Khan mosque in the provincial capital has summoned a meeting of the unofficial moon-sighting committee on May 22 to sight the moon for the Islamic month of Shawwal and consequently of Eidul Fitr in the province.

The local moon-sighting committee is expected to convene in Peshawar on Wednesday under the patronage of Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai, at Qasim Ali Khan mosque immediately after the Maghrib prayers.

The local committee announced sighting of Ramazan moon on April 23 this year and began fasting on the following day.

The committee will check, verify testimonies of moon-sighting as valid under Islamic Shariah and will make a decision then.

If the committee received testimonies from any part of the province, it is likely to announce celebration of Eidul Fitr on May 23. The committee meeting will take final decision in this regard.

The country’s central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and its zonal committees are also expected to meet on May 22 for sighting the moon for Eidul Fitr.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2020.