Fawad Chaudhry forms committee to 'resolve moonsighting controversy'
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday announced the constitution of a scientific committee to "resolve [the] moonsighting controversy" that rears its head in the country every year prior to religious festivals.
The five-member 'Ministry of Science and Tech Committee' will replace the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee for the sighting of the moon, Chaudhry had earlier told Dawn.
According to an office memorandum shared by the minister on Twitter, the panel will be responsible for finalising the calendar to indicate the exact dates of Ramazan, Eidul Fitr, Eidul Azha and Muharram for the next five years "with 100% accuracy".
The convener of the committee is Dr Muhammad Tariq Masood, the joint scientific adviser (IL) at the Ministry of Science and Technology. Its other members include: Waqar Ahmed, lecturer, Department of Meteorology at Comsats University Islamabad (CUI); Nadeem Faisal, deputy director, Met Department; Abu Nasan, deputy director, Met Department; and Ghulam Murtaza, DCM, Suparco, Islamabad.
Examine: 190 years of controversy: The Qasim Ali mosque and moon sighting elitism
Talking to Dawn earlier, Chaudhry had said he had great respect for Mufti Muneebur Rehman but did not agree with the way the moon was sighted by the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee.
He said the way of sighting the moon by Islamic schools of thought of Imam Hambal and Imam Shaafai was different. “Imam Hambal supports physical sighting of moon while Imam Shaafai recommends scientific ways for it,” he added.
Chaudhry questioned why the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee used telescopes and sought assistance of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) if it followed Imam Hambal’s way of physical sighting of the moon. He made it clear that the government would not force people to follow the calendar issued by the scientific committee.
The minister also said he would send the proposal to abolish the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee to the federal cabinet soon.
The National Assembly was informed recently that an amount of Rs3.06 million was spent on the sighting of the moon for Muharram, Ramazan, Eidul Fitr and Eidul Azha last year.
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Comments (84) Closed
May 07, 2019 05:58pm
You are 100% right.
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May 07, 2019 06:01pm
long awaited
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May 07, 2019 06:10pm
Correct decision.
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May 07, 2019 06:10pm
Throughout your political career this is single one best decision by you.
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May 07, 2019 06:14pm
Well done, let's move this country's thinking forward, not backward
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May 07, 2019 06:17pm
It's makes sense and about time.
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May 07, 2019 06:24pm
It is exactly true to the core depth of Islam if a scientific lunar calendar is developed.
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May 07, 2019 06:25pm
Very good suggestion! However, I am not sure if the committee will consider it positively and blame Fawad for interfering in religious affairs.
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May 07, 2019 06:28pm
He could use the biggest telescope in the world the 'habal'.. It was launched by our very own SUPARCO who know a thing or two about moons (not of Fawad's).
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May 07, 2019 06:30pm
"who will bell the cat?" Great step fawad chaudry. But too late and at wrong time, 2Ramadan and 2Eid this year again are inevitable. You should have banned this atleast six month before or at least given a warning to all . Lashing at eleventh hour won't help. Better luck next year!!
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May 07, 2019 06:30pm
well done, good decision for national unity
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May 07, 2019 06:32pm
Moon sighting may be tagged with Saudi Arabia. The controversy would be over.
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May 07, 2019 06:35pm
The first positive thing from Mr Chaudhry at last..
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May 07, 2019 06:36pm
Its wrong decision as science can predict only new moon with 100 % accuracy not the visibility of hilal, we can take help of science for the negation of hilal visibility on the basis of age of new moon and angle but can not predict with 100 % accuracy the visibility of hilal. Fawad Chaudhry has to study science properly before making such a decision it will divide the nation instead of uniting the nation. I live in the US and monitoring the decision of the Hilal Committee (Pakistan) and they are making the decision which makes sense whereas other
countries announce the moon (hilal) when the age of the moon is just a few hours and impossible to see the moon.
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May 07, 2019 06:36pm
The first positive thing from Mr Chaudhry at last
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May 07, 2019 06:36pm
Please leave the moon sighting committee alone and let them do their job. This is an already long settled issue.
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May 07, 2019 06:36pm
Positive step..
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May 07, 2019 06:36pm
Whatever he does, he can't resolve the moon sighting issues in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
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May 07, 2019 06:44pm
Excellent step. It was tantamount to corruption to pay a bunch of old guys such a large amount of money without much satisfactory results. No wonder Mufti sahib is opposing the scientific approach. Way to go Fawad sahib!!!
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May 07, 2019 06:49pm
Great work being done, carry on the g9vt is to decide moon dates and not governing.
This is exactly what is desired.
Bravo
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May 07, 2019 06:57pm
Excellent;
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May 07, 2019 07:11pm
Moon sighting is a means to an end, and not the goal. The goal is to decide whether it is really the start of a new month according to lunar calendar. If we can agree on this, then it is totally unnecessary to go looking for the moon whether through the naked eye or the telescope. Just use scientific calculations and you can get predictions with 100% accuracy for the next 100 years. Problem solved!
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May 07, 2019 07:15pm
@Ishtiaque, Because you cannot see the moon in karachi, doesn't mean that the moon cannot be seen on a plane flying over Karachi over the clouds. The moon is still there, but your logic and understanding of science is hidden.
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May 07, 2019 07:20pm
Wow you are my favorite in as much as this project
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May 07, 2019 07:22pm
Good! Take Mullahs out of the decision making. Follow a since based calculator. We do all 5 prayers by following the clock, not by going out and check whether the Sun has risen or set.
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May 07, 2019 07:37pm
Finally!!! We( expats) had to explain our managers, why we don’t have an exact date for our religious holiday? This will solve our issue and we can take days off ahead of time
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May 07, 2019 07:38pm
Good decision..!
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May 07, 2019 07:48pm
It has to be mainly visualised.
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May 07, 2019 07:51pm
There are several wrist watches that show the moon phasing with utmost accuracy. You cannot sight the moon if it starts appearing after dipping down the horizon.
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May 07, 2019 07:54pm
Is this a joke? 5 guys to sight the moon.
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May 07, 2019 07:56pm
Finally, sense is prevailing in Pakistan!
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May 07, 2019 08:01pm
great decision. No more committee and no more money waisting on this issue as it will bring people close
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May 07, 2019 08:06pm
Step towards right direction. Please finish this stupidity & controversy of moon sighting once & forever. These people dividing the nation for merely sake of moon. Pity! Moulvis Taking huge amount for this show.
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May 07, 2019 08:10pm
finally sanity prevailed..bravo minister sahb
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May 07, 2019 08:20pm
‘Science and technology’ minister! What is their application? Moon sighting for religious purposes!
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May 07, 2019 08:22pm
While some countries aspire to land on the moon some are satisfies with just laying an eye on it!
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May 07, 2019 08:26pm
One country, one ramazan and one Eid celebration.
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May 07, 2019 08:28pm
Look at these priorities. We have much bigger problems. The sighting of the moon is more of a political issue than the use of technology.
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May 07, 2019 08:33pm
@Mumtaz, yes, agree.
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May 07, 2019 08:38pm
@Ishtiaque, thank you. You are 100 percent accurate, it will be divisive and gontentious., with no agreement anytime soon.
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May 07, 2019 08:40pm
@Troubled, study this subject in detail. Ishtiaque Sahib is correct.
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May 07, 2019 08:48pm
@Ishtiaque, go back to school mister and make sure they teach math and physics whatever school you chose.
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May 07, 2019 08:54pm
It boggles the mind that Pakistan is having a national discussion in 2019 about calculations that were settled in the early 17th century!!
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May 07, 2019 09:08pm
Why committee, government should announce the date and every one must follow it. We need to have some sense of discipline and learn to obey.
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May 07, 2019 09:18pm
Sign a contract with ISRO. Pakistan will get 100% accurate data.
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May 07, 2019 09:18pm
wrong decision
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May 07, 2019 09:19pm
This was not an issue even two millennium back.
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May 07, 2019 09:21pm
Not again...
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May 07, 2019 09:25pm
I agree with him, long awaited decision. The whole world celebrates ramzan and eid on the same day. This decision will bring unity, which is much needed.
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May 07, 2019 09:30pm
Very uneducated. No one does that even at NASA. Lunar dates are always predictable but never absolutely certain. So Mr. Fawad, who gave you the suggestion.
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May 07, 2019 09:36pm
Waste of time and money
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May 07, 2019 09:52pm
And don't forget, millions are spent by this committee every year, yet they seem to never be able to find the moon. All that money could easily be spent on feeding the poor during Ramazan.
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May 07, 2019 10:07pm
It wont resolve anything, as there are many different ways of interpreting what constitutes a new moon
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May 07, 2019 10:11pm
If you succeed I K will make you minister of religious affairs
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May 07, 2019 10:33pm
Excellent decision. I hope that it will be implemented asap and there will be NO U TURN.
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May 07, 2019 10:49pm
Good Job
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May 07, 2019 11:30pm
Excellent idea
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May 07, 2019 11:41pm
This is the superb effort in resolving a very very Big issue pertaining to our religious matter.
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May 08, 2019 12:38am
Excellent decision by Minister and we strongly support him
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May 08, 2019 01:13am
What a waste of ministerial time. In 21 century, Pakistan need application of Common Sense to settle the issue of moon sighting
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May 08, 2019 01:19am
interference in religious affairs not acceptable
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May 08, 2019 01:32am
@Ishtiaque, 100% agree with you on this! Thats what happens when we have got non science people running science ministry
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May 08, 2019 01:39am
“He made it clear that the government would not force people to follow the calendar issued by the scientific committee.” So what is the point of this whole scientific calendar? Don’t people already have access to one? There are numerous software available to predict moon visibility so this is just another white elephant in the making.
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May 08, 2019 01:42am
Soon will be reversed
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May 08, 2019 01:42am
At last somebody has the nerves to face these guys.
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May 08, 2019 01:52am
Now SPARCO's job is to advise on moon sighting. Should they not be doing something else?
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May 08, 2019 02:04am
I never ever thought I will ever write a word of praise for Fawad Chowdrey. But today, I have too. His initiative is long over due. Well done, good luck and as an advice include a maulvi as well in your committee.
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May 08, 2019 02:37am
Logic prevails at last
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May 08, 2019 02:57am
Rs3.06 million for sighting three moon. That is absurd.
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May 08, 2019 03:21am
@Farrukh Safdar, well said. The problem with him is whereever he goes he likes to be in the lime light often for beaten up reasons to create controversy at wrong time and setting. Wishing him better luck in future if he remain with his present portfolio in the future too.
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May 08, 2019 04:05am
@Farrukh Safdar, this is a knee jerk decision, unlike all the people commenting without reading the science behind it.
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May 08, 2019 04:10am
@Ishtiaque, ironically, the best follower of the moon for their calendar are the Chinese, we should engage with them at the scientific level to understand which method they have been following for thousands of years. We will also need to engage with the Saudis and turks. A harmonious and unanimous decision can be agreed upon, not quick, but best in the long run.
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May 08, 2019 04:12am
@RS, you missed the point.
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May 08, 2019 04:18am
Is this his job ?
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May 08, 2019 04:47am
Don’t backout ! No U turn on this issue please. We are fed up with this committee and waste of money every year .
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May 08, 2019 07:24am
If you carefully read the composition of the Committee, two experts inducted from the department of "Metrology". I was totally confused as what the experts of the science of measurement have to do with moon sighting. One of the experts from the Comsats University, Islamabad. Could not find any Department of Metrology in the University but I found Meteorology. It is sad that the Director to the Minister does not understand the difference between "meteorology" and "metrology" and still running the Ministry of Science and Technology.
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May 08, 2019 07:25am
I wish PTI would resolve this issue. People are literally held hostage by the moon sighting committee.
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May 08, 2019 07:29am
@Ishtiaque, What are you saying, are you in favor of scientific method or do you favor mufti's way?
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May 08, 2019 07:31am
Why does it need a Science & Technology minister to comment on religious affairs?
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May 08, 2019 07:33am
@Citizen,
Mr. Citizen,
Why not Iran?
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May 08, 2019 10:26am
As if IK did not already have enough problems, Fawad Chaudhry finds innovative ways to create more problems for him by creating religious controversies.
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May 08, 2019 12:08pm
This step should have been taken 20 years ago but now previous government had the courage and will to do it. There are websites which can tell about the astronomical events like moon's age birth and visibility, solar and lunar eclipse with 100 percent accuracy upto 25 years at least with respect to differnt time zones and geographical location of a particular area any ware in the world.
The minister deserves ful credit for taking the bold step to get rid of the RHC which was good for nothing and to make an Islamic Calendar and make use of the knowledge acquired by humans research in every field.
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May 08, 2019 12:51pm
People should ask him some science and technology questions so that it can keep him busy, rather than poking his nose into another ministry affairs
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May 09, 2019 01:45pm
@S, I want to take help from science, even the most advanced countries in science says the new moon birth can be calculated with 100 % accuracy but not the visibility so we can use science to say there will be no moon sighting if the age of the new moon on the basis of age and angle. For example, if the age of the new moon at the time of the sighting of the moon is just 2 hours then we know it is impossible to see the moon.
In Islam, the new month starts when the new moon (hilal ) is visible not at the time of new moon birth.
Moon is always there in the Universe it is only hidden from our eyes.
So I want both science and human visibility, I think our Hilal committee is doing a good job so far by consulting with Weather Department and asking the location of the moon when someone says he had seen the moon,
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