Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court on Sunday announced the beginning of the lunar month of Zilhajj, stating that that pilgrims performing Hajj will stand at Arafat on Tuesday, May 26 while Eidul Azha will begin on Wednesday, May 27.
The Day of Arafat is considered the pinnacle of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, during which millions of Muslims gather at Mount Arafat near the holy city of Makkah for prayer and reflection.
Eidul Azha is marked by communal prayers, family gatherings, and the ritual sacrifice of livestock, with meat traditionally distributed among relatives, friends, and those in need.
The announcement comes as Saudi Arabia continues preparations for the 2026 Hajj season, with authorities rolling out extensive operational plans to manage crowds and facilitate the movement of pilgrims arriving from around the world.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee on Sunday also announced the sighting of the Zilhajj crescent. This year Eidul Azha in Pakistan coincides with Eidul Azha in Saudi Arabia.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting, the committee’s chairperson, Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad, said the skies were mostly clear across the country, except in a few areas.
He said testimonies of moon sighting were received from Karachi and other parts of Sindh, as well as Mardan, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and several other regions. “Therefore, it has been decided that the first Zilhajj 1447 AH will be on May 18, while Eidul Azha will fall on May 27,” he said.
According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee meeting took place at the Meteorological Department in Karachi. The meeting was chaired by Azad, while zonal moon sighting committee meetings were also held at provincial headquarters.
Zonal committees met in Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, and Peshawar.
On May 12, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) issued its forecast for the Zilhajj moon sighting, stating that Eidul Azha was expected to be observed on May 27. According to Suparco, the new moon of Zilhajj was expected to be born on May 17 at 1:01am PST.
It said that on May 17 at sunset, the new moon’s age would be approximately 18 hours and 30 minutes. The commission stated that a time gap of around 60 minutes between sunset and moonset is expected in Pakistan’s coastal areas.
Based on these astronomical parameters, Suparco said the chances of sighting the Zilhajj moon on the evening of May 17 were considered favourable, provided weather conditions remain clear and visibility near the horizon was good. (WITH INPUT FROM AGENCIES)
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