The moon of Muharram is likely to rise on July 18 and the first day of new Islamic year 1445 AH is likely to fall on July 19, the Meteorological Department predicted.

Muharram, the first month of the lunar year marks the beginning of the Islamic New Year or the Hijri new year.

“The crescent of Muharram will be born on July 17, 2023, at 11:32 pm.

According to the Climate Data Processing Center of the Meteorological Department, the age of the moon in Karachi at the time of sunset on July 18 will be 20 hours and 17 minutes.  

Sunset is likely to be at 7:24 PM while moonrise is likely to be at 8:00 PM. The moon’s sighting period is 46 minutes after sunset.

The Meteorological Department says that the moon will

make Wednesday, July 19, 2023, the first day of the Islamic New Year and Ashura is likely to occur on Friday, July 28.

It is pertinent, the Islamic calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar, is a lunar calendar consisting of twelve months beginning with Muharram, and ending with Dhul-Hijjah.

Each month starts with the sighting of the moon.

The calendar has been observed for more than 1,440 years and is used to date important Islamic events including the start of Ramadan, Eid-Al-Fitr, and the beginning of the Haj pilgrimage.

The new Hijri year begins with the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions from Makkah to Madinah in 622 AD after they were repeatedly persecuted and threatened.