The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced on Monday that the moon of Shaban 1447 AH was not sighted anywhere in Pakistan, confirming that the first day of Shaban will fall on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
With Shaban beginning on January 21, the 15th night of Shaban, Shab-e-Barat, will be observed on February 4, 2026.
Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad chaired the committee’s meeting, while zonal and regional Crescent Sighting Committees also met in Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, and Karachi.
Addressing the media, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad said, “no credible evidence of moon sighting was received from any part of the country.” He added that testimonies from across Pakistan were carefully reviewed before reaching a unanimous decision.
He noted that weather conditions were mostly cloudy, though some areas had clear skies, yet no confirmed sightings of the Shaban moon were reported.
Officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Meteorological Department, SUPARCO, and the Ministry of Science and Technology attended the meeting to provide guidance and technical support.
Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad said special prayers were offered for unity in the Islamic world, protection of the Two Holy Mosques, peace and stability in Pakistan, national progress, and the liberation of oppressed Muslims in Kashmir, Gaza, and Palestine.
Earlier, astronomers had predicted January 21 as the likely first day of Shaban. SUPARCO had indicated that the new moon would be born on January 19 at 12:52 a.m., supporting the committee’s decision. As per tradition, the final confirmation of the month’s start was made after reviewing all available testimonies.