Zilhaj moon not sighted, Eidul Azha on August 1
In Pakistan alone, nearly 10 million animals, worth more than $3 billion, are slaughtered during the two days of Eidul Azha. PHOTO: APP/FILE
The Zilhaj moon has not been sighted and Eidul Azha will be celebrated across the country on Saturday, August 1, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman announced on Tuesday.
The decision was announced following a meeting of the committee, held in Karachi after Asr prayers to sight the crescent.
Eidul Azha commemorates the Quranic tale of the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah, before the Almighty replaced the son with a ram to be sacrificed instead.
It marks the end of an annual Hajj, or pilgrimage to Makkah, which is one of the five pillars of Islam, and should be undertaken by every Muslim who can afford to do so.
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, earlier in the day, had claimed in a tweet that the moon of Zilhaj 1441 Hijri has been born and would be visible in Karachi and its surrounding areas.
“If there are clouds, download the Ruet app and see the exact location of the moon,” he added.
Yesterday, Saudi Arabia had announced that no evidence of sighting of the crescent was received anywhere in the country, therefore, 30 days of Zilqidah would be completed and Zilhaj will begin on Wednesday.
Hajj pilgrims would stop at Mount Arafat on Thursday, July 30, while Eidul Azha would be celebrated on Friday, July 31 across the kingdom.