The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet tomorrow (Saturday) to observe the moon of Muharram, marking the beginning of new Islamic year.
Maulana Abdul Khabir Azab will chair the meeting of the central moon sighting committee in Quetta. Azad is the chairman of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
Besides the central session, the zonal committees will also meet in Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi and federal capital Islamabad.
The sighting of moon of Muharram holds key significance as Muslims across the world mark the month in memory of Karbala event. The grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Imam Hussain (RA) and his family martyred during the war of Karbala. They were killed by the Yazid forces for launching resistance against his nomination by his father as ruler of the Muslim world. Hussain (RA) believed Yazid appointment was the violation of the Islamic principle of democracy and consultation (Shura).
The tragic incident of the martyrdom of the key members of Hussain (RA) and his family happened on 9th and 10th Muharram (10 October 680 and in the year 61 AH of the Islamic calendar). The 9th and 10th of Muharram is also called Youm-e-Ashur and observed as public holidays in Pakistan.
