Pakistan’s central moon-sighting authority has determined that the crescent marking the beginning of Rabi ul Awal was not visible on Sunday, setting the date for Eid Milad un Nabi celebrations.
Following a comprehensive review by the Zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committee in Karachi, Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad declared that no reliable moon sighting reports had been submitted to the religious body. The decision came after consultation with technical experts from the Pakistan Meteorological Department and the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The committee’s findings mean that the Islamic month of Rabi ul Awal 1447 AH will begin on Tuesday, August 26. Consequently, the 12th of Rabi ul Awal—commemorating the birth of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)—will be observed nationwide on Saturday, September 6.
Prior to the committee’s announcement, Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) had issued favorable predictions for moon visibility. According to Suparco’s calculations, the lunar cycle began at 11:06 AM on August 23, with the crescent expected to be over 32 hours old by Sunday evening—well within the timeframe for potential observation.
The space agency noted that coastal areas offered the most promising conditions, with approximately 45 minutes between sunset and moonset, providing an optimal window for crescent sighting under clear atmospheric conditions.
Despite these encouraging technical forecasts, the religious committee confirmed that no verified testimonies of moon sighting were received from observers across the country, leading to their official determination.
