Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to Announce Final Decision on Rabi-ul-Awwal Moon Tonight

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is scheduled to meet in Karachi on Sunday (today) to sight the moon of Rabi-ul-Awwal 2025, corresponding to 1447 AH in the Islamic calendar. This meeting holds special importance as the sighting of the moon will mark the beginning of Rabi-ul-Awwal, the month in which Muslims around the world celebrate the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

The session will take place at the Pakistan Meteorological Department office in Karachi after Asr prayers. It will be chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, who is the chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee. During the meeting, experts and officials from different institutions will be present to provide technical support and information. Representatives from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), the Meteorological Department, and the Ministry of Science and Technology are expected to attend, along with the committee’s members.

At the same time, zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committees will also hold meetings in major cities across the country, including Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta, and Peshawar. These zonal committees will collect evidence of moon sightings from local witnesses and share the reports with the central body in Karachi.

If the moon is sighted this evening, the holy day of Eid Milad-un-Nabi will fall on Friday, September 5. However, the final decision will only be made after the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee carefully reviews testimonies received from different parts of Pakistan. The announcement will be broadcast nationwide to inform the public.

SUPARCO had earlier shared scientific predictions regarding the Rabi-ul-Awwal moon. According to their report, the new moon of Rabi-ul-Awwal 1447 Hijri was expected to be born on August 23 at 11:06 AM. By the evening of August 24, the moon will be around 32 hours and 13 minutes old, which makes it more likely to be visible in the sky.

A SUPARCO spokesperson explained that in coastal areas, such as Karachi and Gwadar, there will be a gap of about 45 minutes between sunset and moonset. This condition is considered favorable for the moon to be sighted with the naked eye, especially in clear weather. The spokesperson added that advanced astronomical data also supports the possibility of moon visibility on Sunday evening.

The sighting of the Rabi-ul-Awwal moon is always awaited with great anticipation in Pakistan, as the 12th of this month, Eid Milad-un-Nabi, is one of the most important religious occasions for Muslims. Special prayers, religious gatherings, and processions are organized across the country to honor the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

READ MORE: Pakistan Hajj Scheme 2026 Closes Early After Record 118,000 Applications