Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will hold a meeting today (Wednesday) in Karachi to sight the crescent for Zilhaj, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Tuesday

Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Syed Abdul Khabir Azad will preside over the meeting that will also be attended by the members of Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and Zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Karachi as well as representatives from Ministry of Religious Affairs, SUPARCO, Met Office and Ministry of Science and Technology.

Zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committees across the country will also hold meetings at their respective headquarters in Islamabad, Lahore Quetta and Peshawar.

According to Astronomers, the Eid-ul-Azha, which is being observed on the 10th day of Zilhaj will be observed on July 10 as there are lesser chances of sighting the Zilhaj crescent on June 29.

Head of the Institute of Space Science and Technology of Karachi University Professor Dr Javed Iqbal has predicted that Eid-ul-Azha will fall on Sunday, July 10. According to Prof Javed, the altitude of the Zilhaj crescent will be less than five degrees when the sun sets on June 29 and there would be only half-an-hour duration between sunset and moonset so the crescent could not be sighted. Hence, the first Zilhaj will fall on July 1 and Eid-ul-Azha on July 10.

If the moon is sighted on June 29, it is likely that Pakistan will celebrate the Eid-ul-Azha along with Saudi Arabia and other major countries of the Muslim world as there is a strong possibility of the Zilhaj crescent sighting in Saudi Arabia on June 29.

Zilhaj moon sighting in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has officially asked local citizens to spot and report if any the new moon of Zilhaj– which marks the beginning of Eid-ul-Azha and confirms the date and time of Hajj 2022, on Wednesday 29th of Ziqaad 1443 AH corresponding to June 29, 2022.

"The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has called upon residents of the Kingdom to search for the crescent of the month of Dhul Hijjah 1443 on the evening of Wednesday, 29 Dhul Qadah 1443 (30 Dhul Qadah 1443 according to Umm Al Qura Calendar), corresponding to June 29th 2022 and report to any sightings", the Saudi Royal Court said in a statement.

The Supreme Court’s special session will sit and deliberate on Wednesday evening the results of the crescent search and will issue a decision shortly after Maghreb Prayers.

The Kingdom’s main observations are made from Sudair and Tumair and sightings from these cities are part of the official decision.

How Eid-ul-Azha crescent is confirmed?

Islamic Calendar is based on the lunar system. Under this system, a new month begins with the sighting of the moon on the 29th of every month. If the crescent is spotted on 29th, the prevailing month ends and the new month begins on the next day.

However, if the moon is not spotted on 29th, the next day is counted as the 30th day of the prevailing month and the new month starts a day later.

Therefore, if the new moon is not spotted in the Kingdom on Wednesday June 29, 2022 then the first day of the holy month of Zilhaj will be on Thursday June 30, 2022 and Eid-ul-Azha 2022 celebrations in Saudi Arabia will commence on Saturday July 09, 2022 and Youm e Arafat - the key ritual of Hajj, will be observed a day before Eid-ul-Azha on Friday July 08, 2022.

Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on 10th of Dhul Hijjah whereas Youme Arafat - the standing on the Plains of Arafat, is observed on 9th of Zilhaj.

As for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, Yemen, also for Turkey, Egypt and Palestine, Eid al Adha in these countries is normally celebrated along with Saudi Arabia. Though these countries have their own observatories and moon committees, they normally go with the announcement made by Saudi Arabia.

Similarly, Muslims in the United States (USA), United Kingdom (UK), Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, Germany and other countries too will celebrate Eid-ul-Azha either on Saturday, June 09 or Sunday, June 10, 2022.

The final decision will be taken on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 by the moon sighting committee operating in these countries.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Palestine and other Arab countries have already announced Eid-ul-Azha holidays.