International Astronomical Center

So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent was on Thursday 25 January from Iran By Mr. Asadollah Khoddam Mohammadi. The crescent was also seen on this day by ICOP members from Saudi, South Africa, Algeria, and USA

Wednesday 24 January

• Maldives: ICOP member, Mr. Ahmed Salih mentioned that it was cloudy.

• Morocco: ICOP member, Dr. Hamid TOUMA said: "I am glad to inform you that we have tried to observe the Crescent but we have not observed it. During the TV News yesterday, the Moroccan Gouvernment have anounced that it was impossible to observe the Crescent within Morocco aera, and so the first day of the Islamic Mounth of Thul Kea'dah 1421 AH is Friday 26 January 2001. I would like to take this opportunity to wish a good month for the all members of ICOP."

Thursday 25 January

• Malaysia: ICOP member, Mr. Kassim Bahali said :" tried to see the crescent but it was not seen because western sky was couldy. The first day of Dzulkaeadah begin on Friday, 26 January 2001."

• Brunei: ICOP member, Mr. Mahadi Mohamad Tahir said: ": A group of Survey Department personnel went to Bukit Shahbandar, try to sight new moon of Zulkaedah. Unfortunately the cloud as usual was very thick near the horizon and the crescent failed to be sighted. However the first day Zulkaedah will be begin today (after Maghrib of 25 January 2001)."

• Maldives: ICOP member, Mr. Ahmed Salih said: "here were some clouds, but I think sky was clear enough to see the crescent. Mooncal and the calendar both says it is possible. I am also littlel surprised of the failure to see the crescent."

• Iran:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. AliReza Mehrani mentioned that it was cloudy.

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Asadollah Khoddam Mohammadi mentioned that he SAW the crescent by binoculars only (20X50).

• Yemen: ICOP member, Dr. Mojahid Najem said: "I could not see the crescent probably because of clouds."

• Saudi: ICOP member, Mr. Saleh Al-Saab mentioned that he could see the crecsent by binoculars and telecopes ONLY.

• Jordan: Cloudy and rainy.

• Kenya: ICOP member, Mr. Mahmood Essa mentioned that it was cloudy.

• Nigeria:

  • ICOP member, Mr. Aminu Lukuman said: "Notes: The crescent was not seen yesterday (25/01/2001) [after 29 days of Shawwal]. But the crescent was expected today (26/01/2001) because shawal was 30 days as from 6.45p.m on thursday (25/01/2001) to about 6.45p.m today. We tried to view the crescent but because of the thick cloud we could not see it."

  • ICOP member, Mr. Alabi Isiaq said: "Assalam Alaykum. The crescent was NOT SEEN here (Lagos) neither on Thur (25/01/2001) or Fri (26/01/2001). The sky was cloudy as this is the dry season here."

• South Africa: ICOP member, Mr. Hashim Salie said: " I saw the beautiful declining crescent on Tuesday morning, 25 January 2001 at 05h10. No crescent was seen at sunset on Wednesday, 24 January 2001. In all my years of young and old crescent observation, I have never succeede in sighting the old and new crescent within 48 hours of each other. 1 Thul Qa'edah has been declared to commence on Friday, 26 January 2001."

• Algeria: ICOP member, Mr. Bankih Kacem said: " In spite of the haze on the western horizon the four members present at this observation was able to observed the crescent with binocular, but with difficulty with the naked eye."

• UK: ICOP member, Mr. Maqsood Fazel said: "Weather was very cloudy so no crescent seen."

• USA:

  • ICOP member, Dr. Salman Zafar Shaikh said: "We also tried to sight the Hilaal yesterday (Wednesday, January 24 but it was not visible. Today, 3 of us (me, Br. Yusuf Dadani and Br. Iqbal Ahmed) saw the Hilaal from the Lucent / Bell Labs. building in Holmdel, New Jersey. We saw it after our Maghrib prayers till about 1 hour after sunset."

  • ICOP member, Mr. Gulamabbas A. Khakoo said: "Sighted the crescent on the eve of Jan. 25th, local time in Los Angeles 17:35 hrs. It was very easy and clear sighting. May Allah S.W.T. forgive our short comings. With Salaams and Dua's."

  • ICOP member, Mr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "I LOOKED FOR THE CRESCENT IN ASTORIA, QUEENS, NEW YORK ON THURSDAY 25TH OF JANUARY 2001, AT 5:45 PM. IT WAS SEEN AS A VERY THIN CRESCENT. THERE WERE NO CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON."

Thursday 25 January:-

1. Jordan

Friday 26 January:-

1. Malaysia
2. Maldives
3. Brunei
4. Iran
5. Yemen
6. Saudi Arabia
7. Kenya
8. Nigeria
9. South Africa
10. Morocco
11. USA