Ramazan Begins Tomorrow: Moon Not Sighted in Pakistan, Gulf…

The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee announced that Ramazan will start in Pakistan on March 2, confirming no moon was sighted. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Gulf states will observe the first day on March 1, with the UAE using AI drones for moon sighting. Unofficial committees also aligned with the Central Committee’s decision, reflecting collaboration in moon sighting across the region.

PESHAWAR: The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee has officially announced that the crescent moon marking the beginning of Ramazan was not sighted across Pakistan. Consequently, the holy month of Ramazan will commence on Sunday, March 2. The committee convened under the leadership of Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad in Peshawar, where it determined that no credible reports of moon sightings were received due to prevalent cloudy conditions in various regions.

Meetings held by Zonal Ruet-i-Hilal committees in key cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Quetta corroborated the absence of any moon sightings. The committee, which operates in coordination with national agencies including the meteorological office, confirmed that it had received no credible sightings. Maulana Azad emphasized the thorough collaboration among various institutions to ensure an accurate moon sighting process.

An unofficial moon sighting committee at Qasim Ali Khan Mosque in Peshawar, led by Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai, echoed the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee’s announcement, stating that Ramazan will begin on March 2. Mufti Popalzai reported that no witnesses confirmed the sighting of the moon, aligning with the committee’s decision.

Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia and several Gulf nations, including the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, it was announced that Ramazan would commence on Saturday, March 1. The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia confirmed this sighting via the official Saudi Press Agency. Various Muslim countries often align their starting dates for Ramazan with Saudi Arabia’s announcement, while Iraq’s top Shia cleric declared Sunday as the starting date for the holy month.

Notably, the United Arab Emirates has employed AI-equipped drones to assist with moon spotting for Ramazan. This innovative approach represents a modern enhancement to the traditional process of visually confirming the crescent moon. Details on the drones remain scarce, yet it has been stated that this technology will complement the traditional methods and advanced astronomical observatories in use throughout the country, ensuring accurate moon sightings.

In summary, the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee has confirmed that Ramazan will commence in Pakistan on March 2 due to the failure to sight the moon. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Gulf nations including the UAE will begin Ramazan on March 1, adopting innovative technologies like AI drones to aid in moon sightings. The alignment of starting dates across countries highlights the collaborative nature of Islamic observances in the region.

Original Source: www.dawn.com