Met office predicts likely date of moon sighting for Muharram

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has released its forecast regarding the sighting of the moon for the Islamic month of Muharram 1445 Hijri.

According to the Climate Data Processing Center of the PMD, the moon of Muharram is expected to be sighted on Tuesday, July 18 (29th of Zilhaj).

Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram, is predicted to fall on Friday, July 28, Express News reported.

In an official statement, the PMD mentioned that the birth of the moon is scheduled for July 17 at 11:32pm. However, meteorological experts anticipate that a significant portion of the country may be covered with clouds during this time, which could hinder the visibility of the moon.

The sunset on July 18 is expected to occur at 7:24pm, and there is a possibility of the moon rising at 8pm on the same day. Nevertheless, the experts caution that many cities across the country might be shrouded in clouds, which could potentially affect the moon sighting.

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To facilitate the moon sighting process, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee has scheduled a meeting in Quetta. The committee will be chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, who will lead the discussions and deliberations to determine the official sighting of the moon.

The sighting of the moon holds great importance for the Muslim community as it marks the beginning of the holy month of Muharram. This month is observed with reverence as Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS), the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), during the Battle of Karbala.

The announcement by the PMD provides an initial prediction for the sighting of the moon, and the final decision will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee after the actual sighting is reported. The committee will rely on authenticated testimonies and credible witnesses from various parts of the country to confirm the appearance of the new moon.