Rabiul Awwal moon not sighted, Eid Miladun Nabi to fall on Aug 26

The Rabiul Awwal moon was not sighted, and Eid-i-Miladun Nabi will fall on August 26, Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad announced on Thursday. The announcement was made following a meeting of the committee in Islamabad, while a notification issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs stated that the first of Rabiul Awwal, 1448 AH, would commence on August 15 (Saturday). Representatives from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the Ministry of Science and Technology and other relevant institutions provided technical support. Muslims around the world celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), known in Arabic as the Mawlid al-Nabawi holiday, on the 12th of Rabiul Awwal — the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar. On Saturday, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed authorities to ensure foolproof security and uninterrupted civic facilities across the province for processions and religious gatherings on the day. Chairing a meeting with scholars from various schools of thought and senior officials, he said that it was the collective responsibility of the government to facilitate devotees in observing the sacred occasion in a peaceful, secure and clean environment. The chief minister directed the police, Rangers and district administrations to implement a coordinated security plan, ensure continuous monitoring and make effective deployments for all processions and Milad gatherings. The CM also instructed K-Electric, SSGC, the Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation and other utility providers to ensure uninterrupted supplies of electricity, gas and water in areas around mosques, imambargahs and along procession routes.