Possible date of Shab-e-Barat revealed

Moon sighting for the month of Shaban of Hijri year 1447 is set to take place on Sunday (18 January) in several Middle Eastern countries, as the region observes the 29th day of the month of Rajab.

Shab-e-Barat, an important religious night for Muslims, is observed on the 15th night of Shaban.

According to a report by Gulf Today, calculations by the International Astronomical Centre (IAC) indicate that the Shaban crescent is unlikely to be sighted anywhere in the Middle East on Sunday.

As a result, the month of Rajab may complete 30 days, with Shaban expected to begin on Tuesday.

IAC Director Engineer Mohammed Shawkat Odeh said that although the moon will be born on Sunday, it will set before sunset, making it impossible to sight the crescent with the bare eye. He added that the moon is likely to be visible with the bare eye on Monday.

The report further said that the Shaban crescent may be sighted through telescopes on Monday in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Oman, Jordan, Syria, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania and Albania.

Based on these calculations, Shab-e-Barat may be observed in the Middle East on the night of 3 February. In Bangladesh, if the Shaban moon is sighted on Monday, Shab-e-Barat will also be observed on the same night. However, if the moon is not sighted, the religious observance is likely to take place on the night of 4 February.