Ramazan moon not sighted in Saudi Arabia

JEDDAH/KARACHI: Saudi Supreme Court announced Tuesday that Ramazan crescent was not sighted in the kingdom. The first day of the holy month of Ramazan will begin in Saudi Arabia tomorrow (Thursday), the top court said. Earlier, Al-Arabiya said that bad weather and dust had made observation difficult. Apart from Saudi Arabia, Muslims will start observing Ramazan in Malaysia, Australia, England, Japan, UAE, Gulf nations, US and other countries across the globe on Thursday. In Pakistan, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will hold its meeting today (Wednesday) to sight the crescent for Ramazan.

The first Ramazan is likely to be observed in the country on Thursday. In Karachi, the sun will set at 7:10pm and the moon will be observed 61 minutes after. Secretary Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Research Council has said that the moon can be sighted across the country.

According to Pakistan Meteorological Department, the new moon will be born on crossing conjunction point at 4:49pm on May 15. A fair chance exists of sighting the new moon of Ramazan today. The climate record forecasts the weather will be partly cloudy in most parts of the country. The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee has called on citizens to sight the crescent with the naked eye or through binoculars and to contact them to record their testimonies.