The Pakistan Meteorological Office predicted that the moon of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, to sighted on July 18. This means that the Islamic New Year, which will be the year 1445, may begin next week.
In a circular issued by the Met Office, it said that the new moon of Muharram is likely to be born on July 17, but it may not be easily visible due to cloudy or partly cloudy weather in most parts of the country. The moon expected to remain on the horizon for about 46 minutes.
The moon sighting committee, which consists of religious scholars and experts, will meet in the coming days to observe the Muharram crescent and announce the official date of the new year. This committee follows the criteria of sighting the moon with the naked eye or through binoculars.
Muharram is a holy month for Muslims, who remember and honor the martyrdom of Imam Huseyn ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and his companions in the Battle of Karbala. Many Muslims fast and perform acts of charity on Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram, which is believed to be the day when Imam Huseyn was killed.
The Islamic calendar is based on the phases of the moon and has 12 months of 29 or 30 days each. The calendar has 354 or 355 days in a year, which is shorter than the Gregorian calendar which has 365 or 366 days. The first day of Muharram is a public holiday in several Muslim countries, such as Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Turkey.
Pakistanis may celebrate the Islamic New Year on July 18, depending on the sighting of the Muharram moon. The new year will mark the beginning of Muharram, a month of mourning and fasting for Muslims. The Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle and has fewer days than the solar calendar.
