The Ruet-e-Hilal Research Council cites the moon’s age and visibility limits; Ramazan probably from February 19
LAHORE:
Ruet-e-Hilal Research Council has said that the Shaban crescent will not be sighted in Pakistan on the evening of January 19, which means that the Islamic month of Shaban-ul-Muazzam 1447 AH will begin from January 21.
Council Secretary General Khalid Ejaz Mufti said the new moon will be born at 00:52 Pakistan Standard Time on the night of January 18-19. At sunset on January 19, however, the age of the moon will be less than 18 hours across the country, while a minimum age of 19 hours is required to see a crescent moon.
He said the difference between sunset and moonset would also be below the required standard. In Gilgit and Muzaffarabad the distance 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 vision, a minimum difference of 40 minutes is considered necessary.
“Based on these scientific facts, even if the sky is clear, the crescent moon will not be visible on the evening of January 19, either with the naked eye or with binoculars or through a telescope,” the advisory said.
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 clarified that the official announcement regarding the sighting of Shaban will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
Read: Ramazan is likely to begin on February 19, Eidul Fitr on March 21
Earlier, the council had also shared astronomical projections suggesting that Ramazan in Pakistan is likely to begin on February 19, while Eidul Fitr may fall on March 21.
Addressing the media, Mufti said that the crescent moon marking the start of Ramazan is expected to be observed 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 emphasized that the dates are provisional and based solely on scientific calculations. “The final and decisive announcement about Ramazan and Eid will be given by the central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee,” Mufti said.
