Zilhaj moon not sighted, Eidul Azha on July 21

The Zilhaj moon has not been sighted and Eidul Azha will be celebrated across Pakistan on July 21 (Wednesday), Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad announced on Saturday.

The decision was announced following a meeting of the committee, held in Karachi after Maghrib prayers to sight the crescent.

The first day of Zilhaj would fall on July 12 (Monday), he added.

Read more: Provinces told not to lower guard on Eid

The provincial and district Ruet-e-Hilal committees also met simultaneously at their respective headquarters for the sighting of the Zilhajj moon.

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.