Rajab moon sighted in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced on Friday that the moon of Rajab, the seventh month of the Islamic lunar calendar, has been sighted in Pakistan.

The committee’s chairman, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, presided over the moon sighting session in Islamabad, where the crescent was spotted despite the cloudy weather.

The first day of Rajab 1445 AH will be on Saturday, January 13.

Rajab is a sacred month for Muslims, as it marks the occasion of Isra and Miraj, the miraculous night journey of the Holy Prophet. Rajab also precedes the holy month of Ramazan, which is expected to begin in mid-April this year.

The moon sighting committee was aided by the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Department of Meteorology. The committee meets on the 29th of every lunar month to confirm the start of the next month.