International Astronomical Center

So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent was on Wednesday 13 February 2002 from Jordan. The crescent was also seen on this day from Syria, Algeria, Kenya, Nigeria, Bosnia and Herzegovi, USA.

Tuesday 12 February

• Indonesia: ICOP member, Mr. Thomas Djamaluddin said: "I was attending Ithbat meeting with Ministry for Religious Affairs on 12 Feb. Based on hisab criteria adopted by Islamic Organizations in Indonesia, there are two dates for 1 Dzulhijjah: 13 and 14 Feb. Besides, observational reports were collected from 34 locations over Indonesia. It was reported that 3 students (age 20 - 22 yr) from Jakarta have seen hilal. It was very strange because at that time in Jakarta it was cloudy and partly rainy. In the meeting I myself ask the Minister to reject the report due to low moon altitude (h about 2.5 deg, moon age 3h 35m) and probable missidentification of foreground light source (lamp, etc.). But the Ministry said, it was not time for scientific discussion. The witnesses have been taken the oath by official from local religiuos court. After short discussion, then the Minister made decision that 1 Dzulhijjah was on 13 Feb and Idul Adha will be on 22 Feb, the government will announce a change of national holiday from 23 Feb as shown in the official calendar to be 22 Feb."

• Malaysia: ICOP member, Mr. Kassim Bahali said: "The western was cloudy, the hilal was not seen. The first day of Zulhijah begins on Thursday, 14 Feb. 2002."

• Brunei: ICOP member, Mr. Mahadi Mohamad Tahir said: "No report of crescent was seen anywhere in Brunei. According to the calendar, first Zulhijjah fall on 14/2/2002.However Official announcement of the first Zulhijjah to be made tomorrow."

• Maldives: ICOP member, Mr. Ahmed Salih said: "Western horizon was clear but Crescent was not seen by naked eyes on Tuesday. I tried see the Crescent on Wednesday, but the horizon was cloudy. Thursday the Crescent was high up in the sky and could be seen nicely five minutes after sunset."

• Saudi: ICOP member, Mr. Saleh Al-Saab said: "Assalamu Alaykom,I was near to our bourder with Jordon trying to see the crescent in Ibn Younos observatory at Halat Ammar, but the sky was cloudy both Tuesday and Wednesday. Best Regards. Hajj Mabroor to all Hojjaj."

• Jordan: ICOP member, Mr. Mohammad Odeh said: "Western horizon was cloudy"

• Morocco:
  1. ICOP member, Prof. Hamid TOUMA said: " I am glad to inform you tha yesterday Tuesday 12 February 2002, the Moroccan Islamics Affairs Ministry has declared that it was been impossible to observe the Moon Crescent within Morocco Area. And, so the first day of Dou AL-Hijja will be In Cha Allah tomorow Thursday 14 February 2002. And the Aid Al ADDHA will be in Morocco, this Year,on Saturday 23 Ferbruary 2002, In Cha Allah. So, I would like to take this opportunity to wish a good Aid to all ICOP Members and to all Muslims in the world. Astronomicaly, this decision is good, because as you know the the New Moon was on Tuesday 12, February 2002 at 7h 41min (UT)in the Moorning and after the sunset on the same day, it was impossible to observe the Moon Crescent within Morocco area, because it has only under 12 hours of life. And, after the sunset on today 13 February 2002,it will be possible to observe it within Morocco area, because the Moon Crescent will be have 35 hours of life.Thank so much.

  2. Dr. Abdelkhalek Cheddadi said: "According to the official announcement made Tuesday evening, no report of crescent sighting was registered throughout Morocco. So 1st Dhul-Hijja is Thursday 14 February. Eid sa'iid !."

• South Africa: ICOP member, Mr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim Snr said: "The Crescent Observers Society of Cape Town gathered at the various sighting locations this evening (12/2/2002). No Hilaal was sighted. This was reported to the local Hakim who contacted various Ulama bodies in southern Africa to ascertain whether there had been any sighting in their respective areas. The reports stated that there was no Hilaal. It was therefore declared that the 1st of Dhul Hijjah in Southern Africa will correspond to 14 February 2002, and that Eid-ul-Adha will be observed on Saturday (23/2/2002)."

• Nigeria: ICOP member, Mr. Usman Dukku said: "Six of us gathered in order to sight the crescent but we had to abandon the activity due to very poor visibility caused by clouds and dust."

• Bosnia and Herzegovi: ICOP member, Mr. Kemal Sehbajraktarevic said: "Although the observation conditions was great, the crescent was not seen."

• Canada: ICOP member, Mr. Mohammad Farooq said: "Due to the cloudy weather in Hamilton, Ontario Canada. I was unable to observe the crescent."

• USA:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "Partly Cloudy. A group of us tried to sight the Hilaal. It was not visible."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Jim Stamm said: "I attempted to view the crescent through intermittent (layered) clouds from 6:15-6:30 MST, with 9 x 63 binoculars, without success. Venus was visible about 75% of the time.

     Location  = Tucson, Arizona (USA)
     Longitude = 110.9644 W
     Latitude  =  32.4204 N
     Elevation = 843 meters
     

Wednesday 13 February

Wednesday 13 February:-

1. Indonesia
2. Maldives
3. Saudi
4. Jordan
5. Syria
6. Nigeria
7. UK (On both 13 and 14 February!)
8. USA & Canada (On both 13 and 14 February!)

Thursday 14 February:-

1. Malaysia
2. Bangladish
3. Brunei
4. Iran
5. Morocco
6. South Africa
7. Kenya
8. UK
9. Norway (According to Hilalkommitte Norway).
10. Guyana
11. UK (On both 13 and 14 February!)
12. USA & Canada (On both 13 and 14 February!)

It was not possible to see the crescent on Tuesday from nearly everywhere in the world, and this was confirmed by ICOP members who observed the crescent on Tuesday, where the crescent was not visible on that day from any country including USA, which is at the most western part of the world, that means if the crescent were to be seen on Tuesday from ONLY one country, then this country should be USA! Nevertheless, and despite all the scientific facts, and apart of the impossibility of seeing the crescent on Tuesday from Saudi, Saudi has declared that the crescent was seen by several persons from different parts in Saudi!

Anyhow, this is not a new thing, Saudi had declared the same for Ramadan 1422 AH, but what the ordinary persons might not know is that the reports from the six official Saudi committees for crescent observation confirmed that no one saw the crescent on 29 Sha'ban. Nevertheless, these reports from the six official committees were rejected, and they just accept the claim of seeing the crescent from any person.

Needless to say that the same happened for Thul Hijjah 1422, and who wishes to be sure of that, then we can give him/her the email of some of these official Saudi committees and he/she can be sure by asking them by himself/herself.

Kindly find below the Saudi Official Statement.

Kindly find below the Saudi Official Statement translated into English by ICOP member Mr. Gerhard Kaufmann.

Number: 0104

Public / The Supreme Court / Statement

Riyad, 1 Thul Hijja 1422 AH, corresponding with 13 February 2002 CE

The following statement was issued by the Supreme Court:

/ Statement of the Supreme Court /

Al-hamdu li-Llahi wahdahu wa-l-salat wa-l-salam ala man la nabiy ba'dahu Muhammad wa 'ala alihi wa sahbihi, and then:

The beginning of the month Thul Hijja of this year 1422 AH has been proved by the testimony of a number of upright witnesses in different locations, to be the night of Wednesday corresponding with [day] 13 of the month February of the year 2002 CE. Because of that the Standing at Arafa will be on Thursday, 9 Thul Hijja of the year 1422 AH, corresponding with [day] 21 of the month February of the year 2002 CE, and the blessed Eid Al-Adha [will be] on Friday, corresponding with [day] 22 of the month February of the year 2002 CE.

By announcing this to all the Muslims, the Supreme Court pleads Allah, the Exalted and the Supreme, to accept the pilgrimage of the pilgrims to the Holy House of Allah, to pardon them their sins, to accept the Good of their deeds from the Muslims in every place, to overlook their misdeeds, to assemble them in the Right Guidance, to bring them together, to grant them the carrying out of their religious duty, to help them to triumph through Truth and to help the Truth to triumph through them, for He is listening and demanding. Wa salla-Llahu ala nabiyina Muhammad wa alihi wa sahbihi wa sallam.

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