Why Dhu Al Hijja moon sighting is significant

In Islam, the lunar calendar is used to determine timing of religious events

- BY KHITAM AL AMIR

As the Islamic lunar calendar nears its final chapter, Muslims around the world turn their eyes to the night sky in search of the new crescent — the moon that signals the beginning of Dhu Al Hijja, the 12th and final month of the Islamic year.

This is not just the start of a new month — it heralds one of the most sacred periods in the Islamic calendar, marking the annual Haj pilgrimage to Makkah, and culminating in Eid Al Adha, the festival of sacrifice.