Eidul Azha in Pakistan: Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to convene for Zilhaj moon sighting on Friday

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will convene in Karachi on Friday to sight the Zilhaj moon. The meeting, led by Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, will take place at the Meteorological Department office.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted that Eidul Azha is likely to fall on Monday, June 17.

According to the Climate Data Processing Centre, the Zilhaj moon is expected to be sighted on Friday June, 7 making Eidul Azha's celebration on Monday, June 17.

Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz stated that the new moon, which marks the start of the Islamic month of Zilhaj, will be born precisely at 5:38 pm local time on June 6, with sunset expected at 7:20 PM. The moon is likely to be visible for 72 minutes after sunset.

He said that there were high chances of the moon being sighted on June 7 as it would be of more than 26 hours by then.

Eidul Azha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, is one of the two major Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son for God.

The festival is traditionally marked by the slaughter of animals, with the meat shared among family, friends, and the poor. The sacrificial practice, in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim, continues for the three days of Eid.

Zilhaj, the 12th and last month of the Muslim lunar calendar, is itself considered one of the holiest in the Islamic year and Muslims often fast on its first nine days.