The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is meeting today in Karachi to sight the Zil-Hajj moon and determine the official date of Eid ul-Adha 2026 [1, 2].
This decision is critical for millions of Muslims in Pakistan who rely on the official sighting to coordinate religious observances and livestock sacrifices. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, the exact start of the holy month of Dhu Al-Hijjah varies based on the visibility of the crescent moon.
The committee serves as the national authority for moon sightings in Pakistan [1]. Their findings will dictate whether the holiday falls on May 27 or May 28, 2026 [1]. These dates align with the most common regional forecasts for the observance.
However, international predictions for the start of the month show some variation. The Qatar Calendar House predicts that Dhu Al-Hijjah will begin on May 27, 2026 [3]. Other reports suggest an earlier start to the holy month on May 18, 2026 [4].
The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee typically collects reports from various districts across the country to confirm the sighting. If the moon is sighted, the committee announces the start of the new month immediately. If the moon is not visible, the month of Zil-Hajj begins after the completion of the previous lunar month.
This process ensures that the religious community follows a unified calendar for the sacrifice and prayers associated with Eid ul-Adha. The committee's announcement will provide the definitive timeline for the 2026 celebrations within the country [1, 2].
“The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is meeting today in Karachi to sight the Zil-Hajj moon”
The discrepancy between the Qatar Calendar House and other predictions highlights the tension between astronomical calculations and traditional sighting methods. While science can predict the moon's position, the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee's reliance on physical sightings remains the legal and religious standard in Pakistan, potentially leading to different holiday dates across different Muslim-majority nations.
