Visibility of Ramadan's Crescent
1419 H
In this page:-
- General View
- Ramadan 1419 H
- The Actual Saudi Date System.
- The Official Jordanian Meeting on 29 Sha'ban 1419 H
- Saudi Astronomer Confirms That The Crescent Was Not Seen on Friday !
- The Crescent on Saturday
- First Day of Ramadan 1419 H in Different Countries
- Islamic Crescents' Observation Project (ICOP)
- The Accuracy of The Astronomical Calculations.
- An E-mail from Dr. Omar Afzal (Chairman Committee for Crescent Observation).
- An E-mail from Mr. Irfan Saadat (Kuwaiti Astronomer).
- Related Links.
General View
The purpose of this page is to clarify some points regarding starting Ramadan, and to make the people aware of the latest news about Ramadan's crescent 1419 H. This page won't be useful if you wish to know how to observe the crescent (Hilal in Arabic), or to know more about the astronomical calculations regarding the Moon. These can be found in our Crescent's page.
Every year the astronomers publish their calculations that predict the first day of Ramadan or Al-Eid, but mostly many countries start Ramadan or Al-Eid one day before the predicted day ! Is it possible that the astronomers are that foolish to be wrong every year twice or even more ! Are the astronomical calculations that inaccurate ! Certainly NO !
As for the accuracy, there are many evidences which emphasize that the astronomical calculations are too much accurate. For example, the eclipses occur always at the same instant that the astronomers predict. The occultations too; we in JAS observed many occultations, where the star disappeared or reappeared exactly at the same second it was predicted. I guess it is quit unwise to bring more evidences about the calculation's accuracy. This is a finished argument.
So what is happening ? Well, I highly advise you to read the actual Saudi date system which is found below in this page, where you will conclude that Saudi does not adopt the actual sighting of the crescent to start the lunar (Islamic) month. Based on their criteria, Saudi may start the month even though the Moon didn't reach the conjunction yet !! And so many other countries will follow it, such as most of the other Gulfian countries, and surprisingly Egypt did so last Ramadan 1418 H, where on 29 Sha'ban I attended the meeting of the Jordanian Committee, which is responsible for declaring the first day of Ramadan and Al-Eid, in which we exchanged telephone calls with Saudi and Egypt. In Egypt they told us that they were waiting Saudi, and as Saudi declared the start of Ramadan, Egypt directly declared it. Egypt mentioned in its official radio "that they didn't see the crescent, but as Saudi said they saw the crescent, Egypt will start Ramadan." Thus, Jordan started Ramadan as the both neighbors started it !!!!. We won't be disturbed if any country follows Saudi when Saudi really sees the crescent ! That crescent which the official Saudi broadcast said it was seen by several persons in Saudi, actually set before sunset, and it didn't reach the conjunction yet at that time !
What I THINK is: Saudi simply has specific criteria , by which it needs to start the month, but it would be SO difficult to do so, and to tell the people that we will start the month even though we didn't see the crescent !!! So Saudi is forced to accept any claim about seeing the crescent on the desired day (which satisfies its criteria). Especially if we know that who said he saw the crescent will get about 650 $ as well as other prizes !
More surprising if we know that Saudi many times changed the first day of the lunar (Islamic) month after it started ! For example, on 17 April 1996 the official Saudi broadcast declared that the crescent was seen on that day after sunset, and so the next day (18 April) will be the first day of the new lunar month "Thu Al-Hejjah". Knowing that the crescent on that day set 21 minutes before sunset !! And its age at sunset was about MINUS 7 hours !! After about 5 days, it was so clear that the claimed sighting of the crescent on 17 April was wrong. Thus, Saudi declared later via its official broadcast that the first day of Thu Al-Hejjah would be 19 April not 18 April !!! The same nearly happened last year, where at the night of 29 Sha'ban 1418 H, the Saudi declared that "Sha'ban started wrong, and today (29 Sha'ban) is actually 28 Sha'ban, and tomorrow will be 29 Sha'ban" !!! Such similar things happened many times. So I wonder: What about those persons who said that they saw the crescent, and their claims were accepted initially, but then after days were rejected !!! Luckily, sometimes it was clear that the month started on a wrong day. But other times we may not be lucky to have evidences which emphasize that the month started on a wrong day. Also notice that the months which were changed then, were not "critical" months such as Ramadan or Shawwal. This paragraph should clearly show that we must not accept any claim about sighting the crescent.
However, most people still completely convinced that Saudi sees the crescent, and attributed the astronomical calculations to be inaccurate ! I think it is the time to know the reality, and to know the truth.
On 17 December JAS organized the 5th seminar in cooperation with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs to discuss the islamic applications of astronomy, especially determination of the beginnings of the lunar (Islamic) months. I had a quick discussion with Prof. Hamid Al-Naimy, who suggested that the Saudi might start Ramadan this year on Sunday (20/December) not Saturday (19 December), because Saudi agreed in the last Astro-Islamic Conference which was held few weeks ago in Saudi, to reject any claim about sighting the crescent if it contradicts with the astronomical calculations. We hope so !
Finally, we should say that our purpose of this page is not to offend Saudi. NO at all ! We do respect Saudi. All of us are Muslims, and Muslims are like brothers. But on the other hand, I think it is our duty to say the real situation in order to avoid faults and errors. We all hope to see Muslims as a one unity, and this won't be achieved if we hide our faults. Furthermore, I guess it is the time to say loudly that the astronomical calculations are RIGHT and accurate.
It is not possible to see the crescent on 18/December from anywhere in the Islamic World, it will reach the geocentric conjunction on 18/December at 22:42 UT. The Moon will set 11 minutes before sunset in Mecca, 7 minutes before sunset in Amman, and 5 minutes before sunset in Mauritania (The most western Islamic Country). While after sunset on 19/December, the crescent in the Middle East could probably be seen with difficulty by naked eye, and easily by telescopes. While in USA, it should be seen without difficulty by naked eye on that day. Thus, Ramadan must start on 20/December, if the actual sighting of the crescent is adopted.
"( To Jordan/ Al-Yadodeh/ M.Kh./ Al-Sook/ Mr.
Hayel Mamdooh Abu-Zeid, dated January 21, 1998/Ramadan 23, 1418H.
We wish to thank you for sending us your greetings of Ramadan, and for
reminding us of the date of the New Moon of Shawwal for the year 1418 H.
We would like to remind you that determining the first day of the Islamic
month is like determining the prayer times, and the aim of His Almighty
from these times is to inform us not to take it as worship. It is adopted
in Umm-ul-Qura Calendar that if the Moon's age at Sunset is 12 hours
or more after the New Moon then the PREVIOUS day is
the first day of the Islamic month, since the Islamic day starts at
Sunset, and the night is before the daylight, as well as the time of
fasting is in the civil daylight. May Allah accept your worship. May
Allah bless this Ramadan. Thanking you for your good cooperation.
From: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia/ Al-Riyadh/ The Higher Religious Council "Majlis al-Ifta'
al-A'ala"/ Mohammad Bin Ehmead.)"
Mr. Hayel of JAS received other letters also, about the same subject, which were clearer than this telegram. The
following example may make their system clearer: If for example 29th Dec
is 29 Sha'ban, and the New Moon Phase occurs after Sunset in Riyadh,
say at 11 pm on 29th Dec., then the next day (30th Dec.) at sunset
(For example at 5 pm) the Moon's age will be 18 hours which is more than
12 hours, so that day (30th Dec.) is the first day of Ramadan, even though
the New Moon was not even born at sunset on 29 Sha'ban (29th Dec.),
and generally in such cases the Moon will set before Sunset!! Below
is a copy of the telegram.
Just came from the official Jordanian meeting on 29 Sha'ban 1419 H (18 December 1998), in which Jordan declared that tomorrow (19 December 1998) is the first day of Ramadan !!
Well, the meeting started after the Maghreb Prayer. As usual the first claim came from Saudi, where we received a fax from Saudi said that they saw the crescent on 18 December 1998 after sunset, and so the next day (19 December 1998) is the first day of Ramadan !! Knowing that the crescent in Saudi set 11 minutes before sunset ! And it didn't reach the conjunction yet !! In addition, later on Qatar, UAE, and Iraq declared that 19 December is the first day too.
As Saudi, Qatar, UAE, and Iraq declared the start of Ramadan, so Jordan preferred to start it so as to make the Islamic nation as a one unity. So the crescent absolutely was not seen from Jordan. And for sure it was not seen anywhere on Earth at that day. But.... !!
It was "soooo" clear in the meeting that most of the official persons do not believe in the accuracy of the astronomical calculations, and they believed the claimed sighting in Saudi.
A talk between Jordan and Egypt lasted for five minutes, in which Egypt insisted on that Sunday is the first day, and the astronomers there rejected all the claims of sighting the crescent in the other countries.
Anyway this is not a surprise ! I was asked many times about Ramadan, and I always said, it must be on Sunday, but they will start it on Saturday !!!
What pleased us that several Islam scientists came to us after the meeting and informed us that they do believe the astronomical calculations.
Anyway, we as astronomers should give our calculations only, but the decision of the first day of Ramadan is for the Islam scientists.
JAS got the below E-mail from Mr. Saleh Al-Saab of the King Abdul-Azeez City for Science and Technology/Astronomy Department. In Saudi Arabia:-
Dear Br. Mohammad,
Ramadan Mobarak. Even though I believe there was no crescent, we joined the observation groups on Thursday and Friday but no body has seen it with me or with any other group (on Friday we were 18 men at the site using one telescope and several binoculars).
With Some hope I went to the site on Saturday 19/12 with three others using one telescope and two binoculars but we could not see the crescent which was seven degrees only above the Sun !!
According to the authority the crescent has seen by many people, but I am
sure they had seen any thing but not the real crescent !!
Anyway we started fasting but I wish if we had a right beginning.
Best Wishes
It is clear from the above E-mail from the Saudi astronomer that the crescent could not be seen on Saturday from Saudi !
15 members of JAS gathered today Saturday 19 December 1998 to observe Ramadan's crescent from Amman / Jordan. Our location was Marj Al-Hamam, which is the most western area in Amman, from where we were able to see the Dead Sea and Palestine !
From that area if we were at the sea level, then the Sun had to set at 16:35 local time, but as its elevation is 946 meters above the sea level, the Sun set at 16:37.
The crescent set 40 minutes after sunset. So we tried to see it by naked eyes, binoculars, and telescopes, BUT we did NOT see the crescent. The sky was clear, with a very soft haze patches above the horizon, which could be the reason for not seeing the very thin crescent
We wonder if we as an astronomical society was not able to see the crescent on Saturday after sunset, then how could who claimed sighting the crescent on Friday be able the see it by NAKED EYES 24 hours before our observations !! We DO congratulate him for his superb vision which enables him to see objects beyond the horizon !!
Dr. John Caldwell of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) sent us this E-mail: "Observers Dave Laney and John Caldwell (SAAO) Location Kloof Corner 440m altitude close to all the usual crescent observing lookouts (Signal Hill 350m, Greenpoint 0m, etc.)
Weather was bad one hour before sunset and got worse. A storm blew in from the west (the crescent direction) with high wind and damp thick mist at our altitude. We had to abandon our location about 20 minutes before sunset
or get soaked and frozen. No possibility of visibility from km around, in our opinion."
We received the below E-mail from Dr. Hamid Touma, in Rabat:-
Concerning the crescent of Ramadan, In my town, Rabat, it was foggy the
night of 19-20 December 1998. But the Moroccan TV mentioned that some
people has seen the crescent in south Morocco.
Sincerely yours,
JAS received the below E-mail concerning USA and Canada:
The National Shura Council represents the four major Islamic Organizations
in North America:
The National Shura Council of USA/Canada has decided that RAMADAN 1419 AH starts on the day of Sunday 20 December 1998 for USA/Canada.
There were authenticated sightings of the Hilal in USA/Canada, at:
Phoenix Arizona, El-Paso, Texas, and California.
RAMADAN KARIM TO ALL and may Allah (swt) accept our fasts, our Tarawih
prayers, our Qayam ul Lail (Tahajjud) prayers, our Iteqaf, etc., amin.
Dr. Mohib Durrani
Kindly find below the first day of Ramadan 1419 H in different Islamic Countries. If you are sure of a country which is not listed below, then please click here to send E-mail, with only the name of the country and the first day. We appreciate your assistance. Adopting the actual sighting of the crescent, the countries which started on 20 and 21 December are right, while those started on 19 are absolutely wrong.
Saturday 19 December:-
Please visit this page to know about this project, and your participation is highly welcomed. Information concerning Shawwal's crescent (Eid Al-Fitr) can be reached via this page too.
To know about the accuracy of the astronomical calculations, then please click here
Dear Odeh,
Please put the following on your net, and ask the people to be part of the moonwatch on Dec. 19 and 20 even if they start fasting on any other day.
Omar
Dear Brothers and sisters in Islam,
For all those who are interested in a moonwatch on Saturday, Dec. 19, 1998 please note the following information.
Please record the required details for BOTH evenings.
Scan the skies in the direction of sunset, over an area up to 30
degrees South and 30 degrees North of the actual point of sunset. and 10
to 20 degrees above the horizon. It must have become sufficiently dark
enough after sunset (approx. 20 to 30 minutes) in order to be able to see
the white crescent of the new moon. It may be very slim, just a
sickle shape line. Your detailed information is very crucial for determining the accurate beginning of Ramadan.
Dr. Omar Afzal
The Kuwaiti astronomer's explanation of the beginning of Ramadan 1419
on Saturday, Dec. 19, 1998 is very interesting. See the news from Al-Watan
of Kuwait (date 12/14) and today's al-Qabas as a news item from KUNA.
Ramadan 1419 H
The Actual Saudi Date System
Most people think that Saudi Arabia always adopt the actual sighting of
the crescent as the basis to start Islamic months. But during
the previous years, it was very clear to the public as well as to
astronomers that most of the Saudi months were wrong if the actual sighting
is the basis for starting the Islamic month. Fortunately, JAS received a telegram from The Highest Religious Council "Majlis al-Ifta' al-A'ala" in Saudi Arabia confirming that Saudi Arabia adopts the astronomical calculations and totally ignores the actual sighting. Below is a literal translation of this telegram.
The Official Jordanian Meeting on 29 Sha'ban 1419 H
Saudi Astronomer Confirms That The Crescent Was Not Seen on Friday !
Saleh Al-Saab
The Crescent on Saturday
- Saudi:
- Jordan:
- South Africa:
- Morocco:
Dr. TOUMA Hamid- USA and Canada:
First Day of Ramadan 1419 H in Different Countries
Sunday 20 December:-
Monday 21 December:-
Islamic Crescents' Observation Project (ICOP)
The Accuracy of The Astronomical Calculations
E-mail from Dr. Omar Afzal
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah
Chairman Committee for Crescent Observation Intl.
E-mail from Mr. Irfan Saadat
Related Links
