Muharram moon sighting meeting set for June 15 in Lahore

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet on June 15 to observe the crescent of Muharram-ul-Haram 1448 AH and determine the start of the new Islamic year.

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet on June 15 to observe the crescent of Muharram-ul-Haram 1448 AH and determine the start of the new Islamic year.

The meeting will be chaired by Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad and held at Iqbal Hall, Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, according to an official notification.

Members of the committee will review testimonies related to moon sighting received from different parts of the country before announcing the final decision regarding the start of Muharram.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has stated that there are minimal chances of sighting the Muharram moon on June 15 due to the short interval between moon birth and sunset, which is not considered sufficient for visibility.

According to the advisory, the new moon is expected to be born at 7:54am on June 15, while sunset timings across the country suggest limited visibility conditions.

The PMD further shared that the moon will set shortly after sunset in most regions, including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Muharram is one of the four sacred months in the Islamic calendar. It marks the beginning of the Islamic New Year and includes Ashura, the 10th day, which commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions in the Battle of Karbala.

Religious gatherings, processions, and majalis are traditionally held across the country during Muharram.