The Ministry of Science and Technology has said that the Ramazan moon will be sighted in all major cities across the country on the evening of April 13 and the holy month would begin from Wednesday, April 14 this year.
In a tweet from its official handle on Saturday, the ministry, headed by Fawad Chaudhry, said the crescent will be clearly visible in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi.
“The moon of Ramazan, 1442 AH will be sighted on the evening of April 13, 2021, and the first Ramzan will be on the 14th April, 2021 (InshaAllah). The moon will be clearly sighted in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi.”
The moon of Ramzam , 1442 AH will be sighted on the evening of April 13, 2021, and the first Ramzan will be on the 14th April, 2021 ( InshaAllah). The moon will be clearly sighted in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi.
— Ministry of Science & Technology (@MinistryofST) April 3, 2021
However, the official announcement of the start of Islamic months is made by moon sighting committee — the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
Last month, Dr Shahid Qureshi, a well-known astronomer and expert in the sighting of the crescent, told The Express Tribune that the first fast in Pakistan is likely to be observed on Wednesday, April 14, with the sighting of the moon on 9th Sha'ban.
According to him, the birth of the Ramazan's moon on Monday, April 12 will take place at 7:30 in the morning according to Pakistan time, so on the evening of April 12, the crescent is not likely to be seen anywhere in the world.
However, the possibility of seeing the crescent through binoculars in Western countries in the evening cannot be ruled out completely, he added.
The age of the crescent will be 12 hours and 50 minutes at sunset and the crescent will set in just 18 minutes and 37 seconds after sunset, as per the expert.
The holy month of Ramazan, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and signifies a month devoted to worship, fasting and reflection in the Islamic faith.
The month commemorates the first revelation to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and the annual month-long fast forms one of the five pillars of Islam.
Fasting from sunrise to sunset during the holy month is obligatory on all Muslims.
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