Islamabad: Pakistan’s national space agency has forecast that the Ramadan moon will be invisible to the naked eye on Feb. 28, state-run media reported, meaning that the South Asian country will mark the beginning of the holy Islamic month from Mar. 2.
In Pakistan, the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is tasked with sighting the moon for new Islamic months. Dates for Ramadan and Eid festivals are confirmed by the committee through visual observations and based on testimonies received of the crescent being sighted from several parts of the country.
The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has forecast that due to its low altitude and distance, the crescent will be difficult to sight on Feb. 28. According to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), SUPARCO said the angular distance between the sun and the moon will be 7 degrees on Feb. 28, making the crescent “invisible to the naked eye” that day.
“Based on these observations, the holy month of Ramadan in Pakistan is expected to begin on March 2, 2025,” APP reported on Monday. The report also said that as per SUPARCO’s forecast, the Shawwal moon will be sighted on Mar. 30 in Pakistan, with Eid-ul-Fitr expected to be on Mar. 31.
However, the Pakistani space agency said the crescent may be visible in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 28, making Ramadan likely to start there on Mar. 1, 2025.
“The final decision on moon sighting rests with the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee,” APP quoted SUPARCO as saying.
Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, where Muslims abstain from food, drink and sexual activities from sunrise to sunset. This is followed by the sighting of the new moon and is marked by Eid-ul-Fitr, a religious holiday and celebration that is observed by Muslims across the world.–(Arab News)
