The Ruyat-e-Hilal Research Council has predicted that the crescent moon marking the beginning of Shaban-ul-Muazzam is unlikely to be sighted in Pakistan on the evening of Monday, January 19, 2026, due to unfavorable astronomical conditions.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Council said that based on scientific calculations, the new moon will be formed at 12:52am Pakistan Standard Time on the intervening night of January 18 and 19. However, the moon’s age at sunset on January 19 will be less than the minimum threshold required for visibility across the country.
Secretary General of the Council, Khalid Ijaz Mufti, explained that the moon’s age will remain under 18 hours at sunset, whereas a minimum age of 19 hours is generally considered necessary for crescent sighting. He added that the time gap between sunset and moonset—another critical factor—will also be insufficient.
According to the Council’s data, this interval will range between 29 and 33 minutes in different cities, while astronomers usually require at least 40 minutes for a possible sighting.
Given these factors, the Council concluded that Shaban 1447 Hijri is expected to begin on Wednesday, January 21, following the completion of 30 days of Rajab.
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