Kashmir’s grand mufti Nasir-ul-Islam has constituted a moon-sighting committee for J&K, with the Valley’s chief cleric and Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq as its member.
This comes in the wake of a controversy over the moon sighting last year, which split local Muslims over the commencement of the Islamic month of Ramzan. Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar and the two main festivals of Ids are subject to moon sighting.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Islam said the move to form the committee was to put to rest controversies erupting on moon sighting. “We have nominated members in every district. Any decision about the moon sighting will be taken with the consensus of all these members. This will help to avoid any controversy,” Mr. Islam said.
