Karachi, 18 July, 2023 (GNP): The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee declared that the Muharram moon, signifying the start of the new Islamic year, was not sighted on Tuesday. As a result, Youm-e-Ashura will be observed on 29 July (Saturday), and the first of Muharram will fall on Thursday (20 July), marking the commencement of the new Islamic year, 1445 AH.
The committee’s meeting, presided over by Chairman Moulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Quetta, discussed the moon sighting reports. Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz and other officials were also present at the meeting.
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Earlier, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had anticipated the moon to appear at the crossing conjunction point at 11:32 pm on 17 July (Monday).
However, astronomical parameters indicated a slight chance of sighting the new moon of Muharram, 1445 AH on the evening of 18 July, 2023, corresponding to the 29th of Zilhaj, 1444 AH.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia announced that the Islamic year in the Kingdom will commence on 19 July. As per the Umm Al-Qura calendar, 18 July, 2023, will be the last day of the month of Zilhaj, 1444 Hijri, and 19 July, 2023, will mark the first day of the month of Muharram, 1445 Hijri.
