LAHORE (Kashmir English): The Ruet-e-Hilal Research Council has said the Shaban crescent is unlikely to be sighted in Pakistan on the evening of January 19, meaning the Islamic month of Shaban-ul-Muazzam 1447 AH will begin from January 21.
According to Council Secretary General Khalid Ejaz Mufti, the new moon will be born at 12:52am Pakistan Standard Time on the night between January 18 and 19.
However, at sunset on January 19, the age of the moon will be less than 18 hours across the country, while a minimum age of 19 hours is required for crescent sighting.
He said the difference between sunset and moonset would also fall short of the required standard. In Gilgit and Muzaffarabad, the gap will be 29 minutes; in Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore and Charsadda it will be 30 minutes; in Quetta it will be 31 minutes; and in Karachi and Jiwani it will be 33 minutes. For sighting, a minimum difference of 40 minutes is considered necessary.
“Based on these scientific facts, even if the sky is clear, the crescent will not be visible on the evening of January 19, neither with the naked eye nor with binoculars nor through a telescope,” the council said.
Shaban-ul-Muazzam to begin on Jan 21
As a result, after the completion of 30 days of Rajab-ul-Murajjab, Shaban-ul-Muazzam will begin in Pakistan on January 21. The council, however, said that the official announcement regarding the sighting of Shaban will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
Earlier, the council had also shared astronomical projections suggesting that Ramazan in Pakistan was likely to begin on February 19, while Eidul Fitr may fall on March 21.
Mufti further said the crescent marking the start of Ramadan is expected to be sighted on February 18. “Based on the birth of the moon and visibility parameters, the first of Ramazan is likely to fall on February 19,” he said.
He stressed that the dates are tentative and based purely on scientific calculations. “The final and decisive announcement regarding Ramadan and Eid will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee,” Mufti said.
