The Islamic month of Rabi-ul-Sani 1448 Hijri is expected to begin in Pakistan on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
The official date will depend on the sighting of the new crescent and the final announcement by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
Rabi-ul-Sani moon sighting
According to SUPARCO, the new moon marking the beginning of Rabi-ul-Sani is expected to be born at around 8:27pm Pakistan Standard Time (PST) on September 11.
The moon will be approximately 34 hours and 33 minutes old, by sunset on September 12. This age is considered favourable for the possibility of crescent visibility.
SUPARCO’s calculations show that the time between sunset and moonset in Pakistan’s coastal areas will be approximately 39 minutes.
The Rabi-ul-Sani crescent may be visible to the naked eye in coastal areas of Pakistan on the evening of September 12. However, clear weather will be necessary for observers to see the moon.
In other parts of Pakistan, SUPARCO expects the crescent could be visible with the help of telescopes.
If the crescent is sighted and officially confirmed on September 12, the first day of Rabi-ul-Sani 1448 Hijri will fall on Sunday, September 13. The month will begin after the completion of Rabi-ul-Awwal.
Ruet-e-Hilal Committee
The final decision will be made by Pakistan’s Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, despite SUPARCO’s astronomical forecast.
The committee considers verified moon-sighting testimonies received from different parts of the country before making an official announcement. SUPARCO’s lunar prediction programme provides scientific data to assist the authorities, but it does not itself determine the official beginning of an Islamic month.
Rabi-ul-Sani, also known as Rabi al-Thani, is the fourth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar. It can contain either 29 or 30 days depending on the lunar cycle and moon sighting.
