Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee on Thursday announced that Rabiul Awwal moon was not sighted; and third Islamic month will start on August 15 (Saturday) and Eid-Miladun Nabi is set to fall on August 26, according to a statement from the body.
The committee’s moon-sighting process was carried out in Karachi, while officials and religious scholars also monitored the crescent from other parts of the country. No verified sighting was reported.
The committee noted that cloudy conditions in several parts of the country also affected visibility during the moon-sighting process.
Religious activities and celebrations marking the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ are expected to take place across the country, with Milad gatherings, religious programmes and other events planned for the occasion.
Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee was blocked to access rooftop of the Ministry of Religious Affairs for the sighting of the Rabi-ul-Awwal crescent, forcing committee and astronomers to set up their telescope in the parking area of the Kohsar Complex.
Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Dr Abdul Khair Azad, along with other members and astronomy experts, is currently attempting to sight the crescent through telescopes from the parking area. The moon-sighting session is being closely monitored as the committee works to determine whether the Rabi-ul-Awwal crescent has been sighted.
