The Zil Hajj moon has been sighted and Eidul Azha will fall on May 27 in Pakistan, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad announced on Sunday.
The announcement was made after a meeting of the committee held at the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in Karachi, with Maulana Azad in the chair.
The meetings of the zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committees were also held at their respective provincial headquarters.
Addressing a press conference, Ruet chairman said that credible testimonies of moon sighting have been received from several parts of the country.
“It was decided with consensus that first Zilhaj 1447 AH will be on Monday, May 18, and Eidul Azha will be observed on Wednesday, May 27”, he said.
The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) previously forecast that the new moon was likely to be sighted on May 17.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also announced the sighting of Zil Hajj moon, and Eidul Azha will be celebrated in these countries on May 27.
Eidul Azha falls on the 10th day of Zil Hajj, which also marks the Hajj pilgrimage.
Eidul Azha, also known as the “Feast of Sacrifice,” commemorates the Qur’anic story of Prophet Ibrahim’s (PBUH) willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah, a test of faith that was divinely interrupted and replaced with a ram.
Additionally, the occasion is celebrated with prayers, family gatherings, and charitable acts, including the ritual sacrifice of livestock, with the meat distributed to relatives, friends, and the underprivileged.
Earlier this week, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) had also forecast that Eidul Azha was expected to fall on May 27 as the “new moon of Zilhajj 1447 AH is expected to be born on May 17 at 1:01am”.
At sunset the same day, the age of the new moon would be approximately 18 hours and 30 minutes, it said in a statement, estimating an interval of 60 minutes between “sunset and moonset along the country’s coastal belt”.
“Based on these astronomical parameters, the chances of sighting the Zilhajj crescent on the evening of May 17 are considered favourable,” Suparco said, adding it would be subject to clear weather conditions and visibility near the horizon.
“Consequently, the 1st Zilhajj 1447 AH is anticipated to fall on Monday, May 18, marking the conclusion of the holy month of Zilqad,” it said.
Therefore, Eidul Azha will fall on May 27, Suparco said.