Ramzan to commence from Thursday, crescent not sighted

Hyderabad, July 9 : The Holy Month of Ramzan will begin in Hyderabad from Thursday as the crescent was not sighted in the city or its surroundings on Tuesday night.

The Central Ruiyat-e-Hilal Committee announced that the Holy Month of Ramzaan will begin from Wednesday night and the first Roza or fasting will be observed on July 11. Majlis-e-Ulema-e-Deccan president Syed Mohammed Qubul Pasha Quadri Shuttari gave the official declaration after the religious Ulema (learned men) met at Hussaini Building, Moazzam Jahi Market. The committee headed by Moulana Syed Shah Qubool Pasha Shuttari met here this evening and said that the moon was not sighted at Hyderabad or any other nearby cities or towns. Therefore, Wednesday will be 30th of Shaban and the first Roza will be observed on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the State Government has issued orders permitting Muslims employees, including teachers and outsourcing employees, to leave their offices at 4 PM throughout the month of Ramzan, except when their presence is required in case of emergencies.

This year, the timing of fasting or Roza will be almost six minutes longer than last year. The first Roza will be of 14 hours and 43 minutes. While the Saheri timing will end at 4.17 AM, the first Iftar will be at 7 PM. However, the Rozas will become shorter every day and the last Roza will be of 14 hours and 21 minutes.

There might be five Fridays this year. If Shavval moon is not sighted on August 8 (29th of Ramzan), then August 9 will be Jummatvul Vida (last Friday of Ramzan). The Shab-e-Qadar, one of the three holy nights, will fall on August 5 (Monday).

Special arrangements have been made at all mosques across the State for the conduct of Taraveeh prayers in the night. In Mecca Masjid, nearly 8,000 to 10,000 Muslims are expected to participate in the Taraveeh prayers where Hafiz Moulana Abdullah Qureshi Al-Azhari will recite three Paaras (chapters) of Holy Quran each day for the first 10 days of Ramzan. Similarly, management committees of different mosques have made arrangements for the conduct of Taraveeh prayers.

Arrangements have also been made at several places for Simaat-e-Quran, the congregations where Holy Quran is recited. Such gatherings are primarily attended by women.

It may be mentioned that the Holy month of Ramzan has begun in the Arab countries on Tuesday night and the first Roza will be observed on Wednesday across the Middle-East. INN