Ramadhan Moon Sighting

“Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC) to meet on Wednesday” reads a headline in a national daily. I am not very sure if in view of the expected cloudy horizons the committee would be able to come to an all acceptable conclusion. In any case the RHC depends upon the evidence of eye witnesses from all parts of the country, some of whom are known to ‘see’ the imaginary crescent under assumed  conditions of mind. I would, therefore, suggest that to put an end to such oft repeated uncertainty in the country, the government should announce the appearance of the moon after obtaining the scientific and assured evidence from the metrological department. Such a step apart from unifying the nation on matters of such national import shall also introduce a culture of relying lesser upon the clergy and more upon scientific evidence and edicts in matters of time and space.   ;

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)