Sir: Moon sighting is not as complicated and complex as it has been made out to be. The accuracy about moon-sighting announcements by our Ruet-e-Hilal Committee has been internationally acclaimed.
The first Eid in tribal areas was observed on August 19 because the crescent was sighted on the dusk of August 18 (the moonset was before sunset) by prayer leaders and ulema. Moon sighting in tribal areas was endorsed by the ulema of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but the nation declined to observe Eid with them and waited to sight the moon on August 19, which they did within six minutes of the sunset and moonset.
It was a task next to impossible for the normal human eye to sight a crescent of only one percent disc illuminated at a low altitude and against the horizon brightened by the glow of the setting sun. The second day of Eid was celebrated in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on August 20, while the third day of Eid was celebrated in the remaining parts of the country. The crescent sighted on the evening of August 20 authenticated the announcement of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee. The committee members and the chairperson must be commended for taking the right decision despite coming under pressure. All religious scholars must tackle the moon sighting issue with the help of the latest tools available.
SOHAIL SULTAN
Karachi