Shaban moon 2026 was not sighted in Pakistan, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced on Monday. As a result of this, the first day of Shaban Al-Mu’azzam will be on January 21.
A meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee was held in Islamabad to see the Shaban moon.
The meeting was chaired by Maulana Muhammad Abdul Khabeer Azad. At the same time, zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committees met in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, and Peshawar.
Officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, science and technology, SUPARCO, and other relevant organisations attended the meetings.
After reviewing the evidence about the sighting of the Shaban moon, the committee announced that the moon was not seen anywhere in Pakistan.
Shab-e-Barat date announced
As a result of this, Shab-e-Barat will be observed on the night of February 3. And the month of Shaban will begin on January 21.
The decision was made at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee held at the Islamic Foundation’s Baitul Mukarram office at the evening time.
Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Kamal Uddin, was also present at the meeting.
The announcement came after an analysis of data collected from district administrations, the Islamic Foundation, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, and the Space Research and Remote Sensing Institute took place.
Shab-e-Barat
Shab-e-Barat is observed on the 15th night of the Arabic month of Shaban. Shab-e-Barat is also called Laylat al-Bara’at, which means the Night of Forgiveness.
On this occasion, Muslims offer special prayers, recite the Quran, and take part in other religious rituals.
It is an important night in the Islamic calendar. It is observed on the night between the 14th and 15th of Sha’ban.
People spend the night in prayer, recite the Quran, and offer special prayers on this night.
Some people fast on the 15th of Sha’ban, the day after Shab-e-Barat.
Other than this, giving food, such as traditional sweets like Halwa, to neighbours and the needy is also a common practice.
