ISLAMABAD - Ruet–e-Hilal Committee, the moon-sighting body of Pakistan, has announced that the first day of Muharram, 1443 AH, in Pakistan will be on Tuesday (today). The committee announced that Youm–e-Ashur will be observed on August 19. The committee held a meeting for sighting the moon in Quetta on Monday and announced that the moon was sighted.
The Islamic calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar, is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months beginning with Muharram and ending with Zul-Hijjah. Each month starts with 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 Ramazan, Eidul Fitr, and the beginning of the Hajj. The provincial and district moon sighting committees also held their meetings simultaneously yesterday at their respective headquarters. Muharram is the month of mourning for the seventh-century martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Security is beefed up across the country for many processions taken out by the believers.
Security has been beefed up across the country
The country has seen a raft of attacks at imambargahs and processions in the past. Like last year, this Muharram will also be observed under the Covid-19 pandemic and authorities have warned the citizens to strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) including mask wearing and social distancing to avoid spike in number of coronavirus cases and deaths.
