The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee has officially announced that the crescent moon marking the beginning of Muharram 1448 Hijri was not sighted anywhere in Pakistan. Consequently, the first day of Muharram will be observed on June 17, while Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, will fall on June 26.
The announcement came after a meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee held at Lahore’s historic Badshahi Mosque under the chairmanship of Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad. Addressing a press conference, he confirmed that no authentic testimonies regarding the moon sighting were received from any region of the country.
Simultaneously, zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committee meetings were conducted across Pakistan to collect and verify reports. Representatives from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and other relevant institutions participated and provided scientific assessments related to crescent visibility.
According to PMD experts, the new moon was born at 7:54 am on June 15. However, by sunset, the moon was only 11 hours and 45 minutes old, making it too young to be visible. Meteorologists explained that, during June, the crescent generally needs to be at least 21 hours old to be sighted under normal atmospheric conditions.
The committee’s decision aligned with earlier predictions made by the Ruet-e-Hilal Research Council, which had forecast that Muharram would likely begin on June 17 based on astronomical calculations.
Ashura holds immense religious significance for Muslims around the world. Across Pakistan, religious gatherings, processions, and commemorative events will be organized on June 26 to honor the sacrifices associated with this sacred day and promote messages of patience, faith, and unity.
