Pakistan has officially sighted the Dhul Hijjah crescent moon, confirming the start of the Islamic month and the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday.
This announcement is critical for millions of Muslims in Pakistan who rely on the lunar calendar to determine the timing of religious obligations, including the Hajj pilgrimage and the sacrificial rites of Eid al-Adha.
Abdul Khabir Azad, Chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, said that the Zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committee met to observe the moon [1]. The committee confirmed that the crescent was sighted across Pakistan, which allows the country to synchronize its religious calendar with the lunar cycle [1, 2].
The observation of the crescent took place on 17 May 2026 [3]. Based on this sighting, the month of Dhul Hijjah is expected to begin on 18 May 2026 [4]. This timeline establishes the window for the Day of Arafah and the subsequent celebration of Eid al-Adha.
The traditional moon-sighting method remains the primary authority for date determination in Pakistan. The committee's process involves gathering reports from various zones across the country to ensure a consensus on the visibility of the new moon [1, 5].
Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, the dates of these holidays shift by approximately 11 days each year in the Gregorian calendar. The confirmation of the Dhul Hijjah moon is the final step in preparing for the most sacred month of the Islamic year, during which the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca occurs [5].
“Pakistan has officially sighted the Dhul Hijjah crescent moon”
The confirmation of the Dhul Hijjah crescent allows the Pakistani government and citizens to finalize travel and logistical arrangements for the Hajj pilgrimage and the Eid al-Adha festivities. By adhering to the traditional sighting method over astronomical calculations, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee maintains religious continuity and social cohesion across the country's various provinces.
