Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Hijri dates
The Hijri date in Pakistan is often one day behind Saudi Arabia. Both are right for their own country. Here is why.
Two countries, two moon sightings
A Hijri month starts when the new crescent is seen. Pakistan uses its own sighting, decided by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee. Saudi Arabia uses its own. The crescent is easier to see further west, so Saudi Arabia often sees it a day earlier.
Saudi Arabia also publishes a calculated calendar
The Umm al-Qura calendar is worked out in advance from astronomy and is used for official paperwork in Saudi Arabia. It is not the same thing as a sighting, so even inside Saudi Arabia the printed date and the announced date can differ by a day.
Which date should you follow in Pakistan?
Follow the Pakistani announcement. Fasting, Eid and the Hajj days in Pakistan run on the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee date. calendar.pk shows the Pakistani date and marks a month Confirmed once it has begun.
Common questions
Why is Eid in Pakistan often a day after Saudi Arabia?
Because each country sights the moon for itself. Saudi Arabia is further west, so the crescent is often visible there a day earlier.
Is one of the two dates wrong?
No. Both follow the same rule and reach different answers because they are looking from different places on Earth.
Which date does calendar.pk show?
The Pakistani date. You can switch between the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and the Peshawar committee on the converter and Ramadan pages.