Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has announced that Sunday (today) will mark the start of Zilhaj, the Saudi Press Agency reported, according to Arab News. Zilhaj is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar. It is the month in which the Hajj pilgrimage takes place.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had called on all Muslims in the kingdom to sight the crescent moon, asking anyone to record his or her testimony, or contact the nearest center for assistance to reach the nearest court.
In Pakistan, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet today (Sunday) to sight the crescent for the month of Zilhaj.
Meanwhile, the total number of pilgrims, who have arrived, in the Kingdom hovers above 1,221,463, an increase of 70,348 pilgrims compared to last year Hajj season, according to the Passports’ Directorate statistics. Pilgrims arriving by air constituted the majority with as many as 1,148,400 people, while land routes arrival was 59,448 and the seaborne arrivals numbered only 13,311 pilgrims.
Published in Daily Times, August 12th 2018.
