Believers prepare for religious activities as Muharram begins

The Hijri year of 1441 has begun with the sighting of the moon of Muharram-ul-Haram in Pakistan as announced by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee here on Saturday evening.

The committee announced that Muharram, the first month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar will begin from Sunday, September 1, 2019 and the day of Ashura will fall on Tuesday, September 10.

Believers across the country prepare for the start of new Islamic year, the 1441 Al Hijra calendar, with traditional religious solemnity and fervor but amidst strict security arrangements to avert threats of terrorism.

A number of religious organisations will observe the 1st of Muharram as the martyrdom anniversary of the second Khalifah, Hazrat Umar (RA), holding seminars and meetings to highlight his personality and achievements.

The Shia community was busy at hectic preparations for observing the 10-day mourning with traditional religious zeal and solemnity, in connection with the Karbala tragedy and the martyrdom of the companions and family of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), the grandson of Holy Prophet (SAW) in 61 AH, some 14 centuries ago.

Hazrat Umar (RA), regarded as the most influential Muslim personality after the Holy Prophet (SAW), was martyred by a Zoroastrian slave, Abu Lu’lu Feroze, who stabbed several times in his belly while he was leading the Fajr prayers at the Masjid Nabwi.

Different religious organizations have planned to hold meetings and seminars across the city to commemorate the glorious achievements of Hazrat Umar (RA) and the piety and strength of his personality.

Interestingly, both months of Islamic calendar and Roman calendar – Muharram and September – will go together side by side.

The meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee was presided over by its chairman Mufti Munibur Rehman at the Meteorological Complex in Karachi to sight the moon of Muharram, the first month of Islamic calendar.

Zonal Committees also held their meetings in major cities to collect evidences of moon sighting.

They sent the evidences to the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee which made the final decision.

The day of Ashura is marked by Muslims to commemorate the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) and his companions on 10th of Muharram.

Every year, the federal and provincial governments announce two public holidays on 9th and 10th Muharram.

On these days, processions are taken out in all the major cities of the country with government deploying police and paramilitaries to ensure the security of mourners.

In some major cities mobile phone services are also suspended as part of security arrangements.