The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee officially declared on Monday that the Muharram moon was not sighted across Pakistan, setting the first day of the new Islamic year for Wednesday, June 17. The announcement, made by Committee Chairman Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad, confirms that Youm-e-Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, will be observed on Friday, June 26.
The declaration followed a crucial meeting of the moon sighting body in Lahore. The decision aligned with earlier scientific projections from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), which had indicated zero probability of crescent visibility on the evening of June 15. In a prior advisory, the Met Office stated the interval between the moon’s birth and sunset was insufficient for sighting, though weather conditions were forecast to remain generally clear in several regions.
A Month of Solemn Remembrance
Muharram holds profound significance as one of the four sacred months in the Islamic calendar. The climax of the mourning period is Ashura, which commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), alongside his family and companions in the battle of Karbala.
Throughout the first ten days, faithful across the country will participate in solemn processions and religious gatherings known as majalis. Religious scholars are expected to address large congregations, recounting the sacrifices made at Karbala. Security arrangements for the processions, particularly for the 9th and 10th of Muharram, are traditionally heightened in major cities including Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.
