The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee officially declared the sighting of the Muharram-ul-Haram moon on Thursday, ushering in the Islamic new year, 1447 AH. The first day of Muharram will be observed on Friday, June 28, with Ashura—the 10th of Muharram—falling on Sunday, July 6.
The announcement was made by Committee Chairman Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabeer Azad after a meeting at the Quetta Deputy Commissioner’s office. Representatives from the Pakistan Meteorological Department and SUPARCO (Pakistan’s space agency) were also present. Similar meetings were held by zonal and district moon-sighting committees across the country.
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Speaking at a press conference, Maulana Azad confirmed, “The Muharram moon has been sighted. The 9th of Muharram will be on Saturday, July 5, and Ashura will be observed on Sunday, July 6.”
Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is a period of mourning to honor the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and his companions in the Battle of Karbala. Authorities have heightened security nationwide to ensure the safety of mourning processions.
Earlier, the Met Department had cautioned that dust in Quetta might hinder visibility, projecting the moon’s sighting window between 8:10 PM and 9:00 PM. SUPARCO had predicted the moon’s birth on June 25 at 3:32 PM, with favorable visibility conditions along coastal areas due to a 75-minute gap between sunset and moonset.
Preparations are underway as millions of Muslims prepare to commemorate the sacred month with religious solemnity.
