In Pakistan delink, Mirwaiz panel to verify Ramazan moon sighting

Srinagar: The Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Nasir ul Islam Farooqi, on Thursday announced the formation of an advisory committee, led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, to verify the moon sighting claims for the holy month of Ramazan and Eid ul Fitr.

People in Kashmir traditionally followed the decisions of the Ruet-e-Hilal committee of Pakistan to keep the fast of Ramazan and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr. Last year, people across Kashmir defied the ruling of the Grand Mufti regarding the announcement of moon sighting of Ramazan and followed the decision of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Pakistan.

Following the controversy, chairperson of Waqf Board, Darakshan Andrabi, a prominent BJP leader, had said last year that J&K will have its own Ruet-e-Hilal committee stating, "It will end all confusion related to moon sighting".


The advisory committee will meet on March 10 as the holy month of Ramazan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, which will start in the second week of March, and Eid ul Fitr, which marks the end of Ramazan and the start of the next month, Shawal, will fall in April.

"We have already constituted a Ruet-e-Hilal committee (moon-sighting committee) but the final announcement of the sighting of the moon will be announced after consultation with the ten-member advisory committee, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq," read the official statement of Farooqi, who is the also chairman of religious affairs of J&K.

The Grand Mufti has also announced the formation of teams of Muslim Personal Law Board across J&K and Ladakh which will convey the information regarding sightings of the moon of Ramazan and Eid ul Fitr to the advisory committee.

Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam would announce the moon sight rulings generally after the announcement of Pakistan. The government here would affirm the Grand Mufti's decision and announce the holidays accordingly.