ISLAMABAD: Muharram, the first month of the Islamic New Year 1444, will begin in Pakistan on July 31, the country’s moonsighting committee said on Friday.

The 12 Islamic, or Hijri, calendar months are determined by the sighting of the new moon. The first month is Muharram and the last is Dhu Al-Hijjah.

The Hijri calendar is a lunar calender named after the Arabic word “hijra,” referring to the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from Makkah to Madinah 1,400 years ago.

Pakistan’s Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee held a meeting in Quetta — the provincial capital of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province — to sight the Muharram moon on Friday.  

“The moon was not sighted in Pakistan today (Friday),” the committee said on Twitter. “Therefore, the 1st Muharram-ul-Haram, 1444 AH shall commence from Sunday, the 31" of July, 2022.”

The month of Muharram is significant for Shia Muslims as it marks the death anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hussain, who died in the Battle of Karbala on the 10th day of the month in 680 CE.

As mourning processions and gatherings are held throughout the month, the National Command and Operation Centre — Pakistan’s COVID-19 response body — issued health rules for upcoming congregations, making face masks and maintaining a distance of six feet mandatory.

“Venue for the conduct of Majalis [congregations] should be open and spacious with proper ventilation arrangements,” the NCOC said in a notification. “Wearing of masks and maintenance of social distancing is mandatory during majalis and processions. Availability of masks and sanitizers/hand washing arrangements at the entrance (should) be ensured by organizing committees.”

It advised that organizers regulate the entry and exit points of Muharram gatherings and processions to avoid overcrowding and spreading of the infection.

Pakistan has had very few COVID-19 cases in recent months and lifted almost all restrictions, but in the past few weeks it has been observing a spike in infection numbers.