Sistani's office announces start of Safar month in Iraq

NAJAF, Iraq — The office of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Iraq's highest Shia religious authority, announced that Thursday marks the first day of the month of Safar in the Islamic lunar calendar. Safar is the second month of the Hijri calendar, following Muharram. The announcement was issued through Sistani's main office in Najaf, in southern Iraq. The statement said that crescent moon observations for the start of Safar had been completed, confirming the beginning of the new month. Sistani's office did not provide additional details about the timing or methodology of the observations. No further information was immediately available. Calendar announcements from Iraq's Shia religious authority are used to plan official holidays and religious programs across the country. Sistani's office has previously announced the start of other significant months, including Muharram and Ramadan, using the same procedure.