The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted that the crescent moon of the Holy month of Ramadan 2023 to be sighted on March 22, 29 Shabanul Muzam. The PMD has said that according to climate records, the weather is expected to be fair or partly cloudy in most parts of the country on the evening of March 22.

The new moon of Ramazan, 1,444 AH, will born on the crossing conjunction point at 22-23 PST on 21-03-2023. According to astronomical parameters, there is a chance of sighting the new moon of Ramazan, 1444 AH on the evening of March 22, 2023 as according to Islamic calendar on 29th of Shaban, 1444 AH.

In case the holy month begins in line with the PMD’s forecast, the first Ramazan will be on March 23, Thursday. Ramazan-ul-Mubarak, the month of fasting, is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During the fast, Muslims must abstain from eating, drinking, gossip and cursing, and are encouraged to focus on meditative acts like prayer, reading the holy Quran and charity.The Islamic world follows a lunar calendar, and the traditional moon-sighting methodology can lead to different countries declaring the start of Ramadan a day or two apart.

Same practice can be observed every year in Pakistan. Pakistan's northwestern areas traditionally fast with Saudi Arabia.  As Saudi Arabia’s Supreme announced all Muslims in the kingdom to sight the crescent moon of the holy month of Ramadan 2023 on March 21 (Tuesday) evening.

The religious clerics in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which also includes the newly-merged tribal districts, decided to begin Ramadan with the Kingdom in their own territories. The religious clerics in Mohmand district, noted that residents of his area had traditionally followed Saudi Arabia while fasting and celebrating Eid.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP