Ramadan Crescent Moon Sighting Committee set up

A committee to sight the crescent moon that marks the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan in the UAE for the current Hijri year 1433 was set up on Monday through a ministerial decree by Justice Minister Dr Hadif Jua'an Al Dhaheri. Membership of the newly-set up moon-sighting committee which is chaired by the minister himself, includes senior Awqaf (endowments) officials, judiciary officials, religious counselors and members of the astronomical society. According to the decree, the committee will meet after Maghreb prayers on Thursday, Sha'ban 29th 1433 Hijri, July 19th, at the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. The verification committee affiliated to the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department will follow up the sighting of the moon in the central, eastern and western regions of the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The resolution urged all Sharia courts in the country to participate in the moon sighting and update the committee on their sightings.