Muharram moon sighted, Ashura on August 30
The first of Muharram will be observed on August 21 (Friday).
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Muharram-ul-Haram crescent has been sighted and Youm-e-Ashur would fall on August 30, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced on Thursday.
The first of Muharram, which is also the first day of Hijri year 1442 according to the Islamic calendar, will be observed on August 21 (Friday).
Mufti Muneebur Rehman presided over the meeting for the moon sighting committee in Karachi, whereas Meeting of zonal committees were also held in major cities across the country to collect evidence of the moon sighting.
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and considered to be highly religious, only coming next to Ramadan. Muharram, in itself, means "forbidden" and since it is considered to be holy, many Muslims use it as a period of prayer and reflection. It is a norm for people in the community to fast during the holy Muharram period.
Muharram also marks the anniversary of the battle of Karbala, where holy Prophet Muhammad s (PBUH) grandson Imam Hussain Ibn Ali was killed. They remember the massacre on the 10th day, Ashura, with some choosing to fast.
Many Muslims opt to fast on the day of Ashura, as well as on other days in the month of Muharram, to show thankfulness.
