Islamabad/Kabul, May 16: Muslims in Pakistan, Afghanistan and other Asian nations are keenly keeping a tab on the announcement from the designated religious authorities on the sighting of crescent moon in the region. If the moon is spotted today, the holy month of Ramadan ul-kareem, also referred to as Ramzan in the Indian subcontinent, will begin from tomorrow. Stay tuned here for the live updates.
If the moon is sighted today, the month of Ramzan will begin from tomorrow. All adult Muslims are duty-bound to fast between dawn to dusk during the entire month, except if they are plagued by illness.
The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee in Pakistan will be keeping a tab on the sighting of moon in all provinces of the nation. The Ministry of Culture and Religion in Afghanistan will issue a statement on the beginning of Ramadan post the namaz-e-maghrib (or evening prayers).
If the moon is sighted today, not only would the fasts begin from tomorrow, but mosques affiliated to all school of thoughts will begin the Taraweeh namaz - special prayers held each night throughout Ramzan - from today.
Islamic scholars, however, doubt whether the moon would be spotted today as the crescent was not sighted in Middle East tomorrow. The South Asian region, throughout the past several decades, has sighted the moon only a day after the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations.