By Afshain Afzal

As crescent moon was sighted in Saudi Arabia, it was confirmed that Tuesday, 13 April 2021 will be the first day of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia and the Muslim world. In Pakistan witnesses gave evidence of sighting of moon in the Tribal Areas, especially Waziristan and observed first Ramadan today on 13^th April. Officially, the commencement of holy month of Ramadan has not been announced in Pakistan and it will be decided today’s evening whether first day of Ramadan will be held on 14th or 15th April. Last month, Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Moulana Abdul Khabir Azad during a meeting at Ministry for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony, Islamabad announced that a meeting will be held on 13th April at Peshawar to sight the moon for the holy month of Ramadan. The Committe is to also compromise of representatives of the Pakistan Meteorological Department and Ministry of Science and Technology. Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad spoke to media on 12 April and said, “We have extended an invitation to Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai to attend the meeting. I pray to God, may we develop a consensus with Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai and if Allah wants, our decision and Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai's about the beginning of Ramadan will be the same." Interestingly, the Indian Government announced that the holy month of Ramadan in India is starting from Wednesday, 14 April but Pakistan has yet to decide, despite scientific sermons.

Last year, the country observed two Ramadans and two Eids as first Ramazan was observed in most parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday 24 April, on the basis of announcement made by Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai from historic Masjid Qasim Ali Khan while Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee headed by Mufti Munibur Rahman declared that moon could not be sighted anywhere in the country and the first Ramazan would be observed on Saturday, 25 April 2020. An official of Pakistan Meteorological Department shared information in March that the new moon of Ramadan will be born on the morning of 12 April 2021 (28 Sha'ban) in Pakistan and after 37 seconds, the moon will set and it is highly likely that the moon of Ramadan will be seen sighted on 13 April in most parts of the world, including Pakistan.

The announcement was greeted by enhanced-action by anti Islamic factions that will be followed be reign of harassment and terror. In the international conspiracy, a systematic campaign has already been launched against the Mulsims in the name of their involvement in terrorism, extremism and money laundering. In India, as holy month of Ramadan is due to start strict lockdown in whole Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir has been imposed. At several places authorities fined commuters for not wearing masks and violating COVID19 guidelines. Shops and other business establishments across city remained closed while public transport remained off the roads. The authorities have re-imposed strict restrictions on public movement in 88 areas notified as red zones in Srinagar. Interestingly, in the same areas, the Indian Army and security apparatus are launching man-hunts against Kashmiris, killing thousands of innocent men, women and children. In old Srinagar and other parts of the city, barbed wires have been laid to stop the movement of traffic and Muslims are not allowed to even offer prayers in the mosques. In Africa and Middle East, the reign of terror has intensified. 

Al Quraan in Verse No 5 of Surat Younas guides us, “He (Almighty Allah) is the One who has made the sun a glow, and the moon a light, and determined for it stages, so that you may learn the number of the years, and the calculation. Allah has not created all this but for a rightful purpose. He elaborates the signs for a people who understand. Muslims including people of Pakistan mostly follow Saudi Arabia to start Ramadan, observe Eids including Hajj and Qurbani because the Holy Kaabah also known as Baitullah is located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud is the custodian of the holy Mosques of Mecca and Media while the country is known as the citadel of Islam. But Pakistan and India generally observe Ramadan and Eids one day after Saudi Arabia. One wonders how long we would remain divided in the Muslim world. Did it ever happen in Pakistan that anywhere in the world Christmas was celebrated on different dates. If someone argue over the issue of lunar and solar then why so far countries following solar calendar did not ever experience difference over leap year. Leaving aside the Christmas’ fact, in case of the even Muharram there is complete unity on same date as it never happened that Pakistani observed the Muharram on different dates or dates of Pakistan and Iran or other countries ever differed. There is no doubt, it is an attempt to divide the Muslim world. We need to follow Saudi Arabia or at least Muslim world should empower some country to announce a single date for all the Muslim celebrations and observances.