The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee is meeting Sunday, May 17, to determine the sighting of the Zil Hajj moon [1].
The outcome of this meeting is critical for millions of Muslims, as it establishes the official start of the month of Zil Hajj [1]. This timing determines the date of Eid al-Adha and the window for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, the most important spiritual journey in the Islamic faith.
The committee is specifically looking for the moon for the year 1447 Hijri [2]. The sighting process involves collecting reports from various locations across the country to ensure a consensus on the lunar visibility.
Once the committee verifies the sighting, it will announce the official date for the beginning of the month. This announcement serves as the authoritative guide for religious observances, and public holidays throughout the region.
Observers and religious leaders await the committee's decision to coordinate the logistical requirements of the Hajj. The process remains the standard method for aligning the lunar calendar with the Gregorian dates used in civil administration.
“The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee is meeting this Sunday, May 17, to determine the sighting of the Zil Hajj moon.”
The meeting of the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee is the final step in transitioning from the lunar calendar to the practical scheduling of one of the world's largest annual migrations. Because the Islamic calendar is based on moon sightings rather than fixed astronomical calculations, the committee's verification is the only way to synchronize religious obligations with the legal and civil calendars of the state.
