KARACHI: The Shawwal crescent, 1439 Hijri, has not been sighted and Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated in Pakistan on Saturday, June 16, 2018, announced Ruet-e-Hilal committee here Thursday.
The announcement was made by Chairman Ruet-e-Hilal committee Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman. He chaired the meeting at the Met office Karachi.
The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (CRHC) met in Karachi this evening to sight the crescent for the month of Shawwal, which marks the end of fasting month of Ramazan.
"It's going to be a closed-door meeting. We will be receiving testimonies," Mufti Muneeb said, urging media not to report unconfirmed and unauthentic reports about the moon.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, it is unlikely that the Shawal moon will be sighted on Thursday.
“There are fewer chances of the Eid moon being sighted today,” the Met Office said while stating that chances are higher of Eid-ul -Fitr being celebrated on Saturday, June 16 across Pakistan.
The moon can only be sighted if it is 26 hours and 42 minutes old, it added while stating that at sundown the moon will be 19 hours and three minutes old.
The new moon of Shawwal, 1439 AH will be born on crossing conjunction point at 00-45 PST on 14-06-2018, a statement by the Met office said.
In a press release on June 4, the Met office said that there was slight chance of sighting of the moon.
According to astronomical parameters, there is a slight chance of sighting the new moon of Shawwal, 1439 AH on the evening of 14-06-2018 i.e. on 29th of Ramzan, 1439 AH.
Te weather is expected fair/partly cloudy in most parts of the country, according to climate record.
The authorities have set up Special Cells to collect evidence of moon sighting from different parts of the country.
People have been asked to approach the relevant authorities to submit evidence.
Here are the contact number people can dial to submit the evidence:
Mufti Munibur Rehman: 0300-9285203 and 0321-2022000
Noor Islam Shah (DG R &R): 0333-5453499
Hafiz Abdul Qudoos (Deputy Director -0333-2697051 and line numbers 021-99261412 &021-9926413.
Eidul Fitr in the holiday that marks the end of Ramazn-u- Mubarak.
Beside the Central Ruet-e-Hial Committee, zonal moon sighting bodies hold their meetings in major cities of the country to collect the evidence regarding the sighting of crescent.
Dawoodi Bohras mark Eid
In Karachi, Bohra community celebrated Eid with religious and tradional fervour. The community offered Eid prayers at Taheri masjid and other mosques in the city.
Saudi top court to decide on moon
The Supreme Court in Saudi Arabia has called Muslims living in the Kingdom to sight the moon for the month of Shawwal on Thursday evening, Ramadan 29, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Tuesday.
According to the news agency, the people have been asked to report to the nearest court and register their testimonies if they sight the crescent by the naked eyes or through binoculars.
Moon sighted in UAE: report
The crescent of the Shawwal moon has been sighted in Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain, the UAE's International Astronomy Center announced on Thursday.
This means Eid ul-Fitr should begin on Friday.
According to Khaeej Times, the final decision will be taken when the moon-sighting committee in the UAE, which will meet only after Maghrib prayer, announces its decision.
In the UAE, as announced earlier, the public sector will observe their Eid break until Sunday, June 17, while the private sector will observe a two-day break on Friday and Saturday, should Friday be the first day of Eid.
Eid in Turkey on Friday
ANKARA: Turkey will celebrate the Islamic holiday of Eid Ul-Fitr starting on June 15 until June 17, marking the end of 30 days of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, Hurriyet Daily reported.
In Turkey, the Islamic holy month of Ramadan began on May 16.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is a time when Muslims abstain from food, drink and smoking from the “sahur” meal at sunrise to the “iftar” meal at sunset.
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