First Ramadan 2025 Moon Sighting Expected on March 1
The predicted sighting of the Ramadan moon on March 1 marks a significant event in the Islamic calendar, with the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee's meeting in Peshawar aiming to ensure a unified start to Ramazan 1446 Hijri across Pakistan, while Muslims worldwide prepare for a month of fasting and spiritual reflection.
The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will convene in Peshawar on February 28 to sight the Ramadan-ul-Mubarak moon, with Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad presiding over the meeting, aiming to unify Ramazan dates across Pakistan.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted a "good chance" of sighting the Ramadan 1446 AH moon on March 1st, which would make March 2nd the first day of Ramadan. This rare alignment between the Hijri and Gregorian calendars occurs once every 33 years, highlighting the intricate relationship between lunar and solar cycles.
Zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committees will also hold separate meetings to sight the crescent moon, and the federal government's decision to convene the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee in Peshawar aims to end historical differences in moon sighting, particularly between Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and other provinces. In Saudi Arabia, Muslims will sight the crescent moon on the evening of February 28, 2025, and fasting will begin on either March 1 or 2, depending on the sighting.
The rare occurrence of the Ramadan 2025 crescent moon sighting offers an opportunity for spiritual renewal and reflection on the wonders of the cosmos, and Muslims in Saudi Arabia are encouraged to sight the moon themselves and report their testimony to the nearest court or center.
