International Astronomical Center

So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent was on Friday 15 March from Brunei, by ICOP member Mr. Mahadi Mohamad Tahir. The crescent was also seen on this day from Maldives, Iran, Saudi, Jordan, Syria, Kenya, Nigeria, USA.

Thursday 14 March

• Maldives: ICOP member, Mr. Ahmed Salih said: "The sun was seen setting down until 1816. Horizon was clear but crescent was not seen."

• Iraq: ICOP member, Mr. Tarek Katbeh said: " 7X50 Binocular, 14/3/2002, it was dusty, partially cloudy and the crescent wasn't seen."

• Bahrain: ICOP member, Mr. Fathi Mayoof mentioned that he couldn't see the crescent despite the clear skies.

• Saudi: ICOP member, Mr. Anwar Al Muhammad said: "I was trying to sight it within 25 minutes after sun set, but could not even with a telescope. In fact it stays at most 20 minutes after sun set in our area-Al Qateef, East of Saudi Arabia- that is less than required time to be visible. Unfortunately, some bodies claimed that they saw it in some near place then I phoned them after the moon set time and they informed me that they are still seeing it!!!???."

• Jordan: ICOP member, Mohammad Odeh said: "Three members of JAS went to the Jordanian mountains (220 Km South of Amman). We used a 10" computerized telescope from a location which is 1735 meters above sea-level, and the atmospheric conditions were rather superb. Despite all these advantages, we could NOT see the crescent on Thursday 14 March 2002. The coordinates of the location are:-

  - Longitude: 35:29 E
  - Latitude: 30:25 N
  - Elevation: 1735 m.
  - Temperature: About 2 Degrees Celsius!

• Algeria: ICOP member, Mr. Bankih Bankacem said: "05 members of AMNIR Club with 03 members of a team from GHARDAIA have tried to observe the new crescent and it was not observed."

• Morocco:
  1. Dr. Abdelkhalek Cheddadi said: "The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs announced that 1st of Muharram is Saturday, March 16th, Insha Allah. The crescent hasn't been observed on Thursday evening (29 of Dhul-Hijja). Kull aam wa antum bi khayr !"

  2. ICOP member, Prof. Hamid TOUMA said: "I came back from the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. I arrived Mauritania on Thursday 14 March 2002, at 11 O'Clock PM. During my flight (Casablanca to Nouackchott) I tried to observe the Crescent across the window of the plane, but I did not see it, the sky was very clear. And when I arrived Nouackckott Airoport, I was informed that the First Muharramme 1423 in Mauritania was announced officially to be on the Thursday 14 March 2002. So it was supposed that they was observed the Crescent on Wednesday 13 March 2002, just after the Sunset (19 h or 7 O'Clock PM). As you know, it was impossible astronomicaly to observe the Crescent of the Moon on 13 March 2002 because the New Moon occured on Thursday 14 March at 2 O'clock AM. I have discussed with a "ALIME" Mauritanien, but... I have taken the opportunity to showed them the web page of the ICOP, and explain them the aims of the ICOP. And also I have taken the opportunity to show the same web site to the BENIN representant, because in the BENIN country there are many Muslim people. I encorraged them to participate to the ICOP. I hope. By the way, I confirm that in Morocco the first day of Muharram was on Saturday 16 March 2002, as declared by my Brother the Prof. CHADADI. This decision is good because the new Moon was on Thusday 14 March 2002, at (UT) 2 h 02 min AM, and just after the Sunset (19 h) the Crescent was only 17 hours of life, so it was very difficult to observe in this day, but on the day after, Friday 15 March 2002, the Crescent has 41 hours of life, so it was very visible. I want only to inform all ICOP Members that the Islamic Replublic of Mauritania has officialy declared the 1st day of Muharram on Thursday 14 March 2002, and I have not seen the crescent during the flight Casablanca-Nouackchott. But on the Friday 15 March 2002, just after the Sunset 19 h 20 min (7 O'Clock past 20 minutes PM) (local times which is equivalent to Universal Time) I have seen -in NOUACKCHOTT- the crescent which was horizontal and its horns (Assuming the Moon's disk as a clock) were pointing at 3 O'Clock and to 9 O'Clock, close to Venus planet."

     Prof. Hamid added in another E-mail: "Sincerely, I tried to observe the Crescent during my flight between Casablanca (Latitude 33,2° N; Longitude : 7.8 ° W) and Nouakchott (Latitude 20 ° N, Longitude : 9.8° W) but I didn't see it. And the sky was very clear. I was setting close to the windows of the plane and I have fixed the horizon of the sky to observe the Crescent. I remunber that the sky in the horizon was divided by two sides, one ORANGE color and second BLUE DARK color. I have not any optical instrument, but I have used my Naked Eyes. The main information that I wanted to send you by my old e-mail: the First Muharram 1423 in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania was announced officially on the Thursday 14 March 2002. And some people of BENIN would like to be a member of ICOP, because all Muslims in BENIN (Africain Contry) follow the Arabia Saudia to celebrate their AIDS and use the Saudia Calendar."

• South Africa: ICOP member, Mr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim Snr said: "Members of the Crescent Observer's Society gathered at the sighting locations - Bakoven, Three Anchor Bay, Stellenbosch, and Signal Hill before sunset (19h06 local time) and remained at their posts till moonset (19h39). No Hilaal was sighted. From Bakoven, Three Anchor Bay, and Stellenbosch - a band of cloud stretched across the horizon. At Signal Hill, approx. 300m above sea level, there was a band of blue above the horizon. One star was clearly seen after sunset at almost sea level but no Hilaal. The sighting reports were delivered to Sheigh Siraaj Hendricks (the representative of the Muslim Judicial Council). No positive sighting in the Southern African region. The month of Dhul Hijjah 1422 will be extended to a 30 day month, and the 1 Muharrum 1423 will correspond to Saturday 16 March 2002."

• Nigeria: ICOP member, Mr. Usman Dukku said: "Observation was not tried due to dust."

• USA:

  1. ICOP member, Mr. Gulamabbas Khakoo said: "Unable to sight the crescent this evening of Thursday, Mar. 14th, from Long Beach, CA . Tried for almost for 45 mins from 18:15 hrs local time."

  2. ICOP member, Dr. Ahmad Raza Khan said: "I was not able to look at the crescent last night due to very cloudy weather here and almost-snow like conditions. Unfortunately, we have clouds in the sky all day today as well and there will be no way to observe crescent from Nebraska, USA. I look forward to hearing other crescent's sightings elsewhere in USA and other countries Insha Allah. New Year good wishes to the Muslim Ummah."

  3. ICOP member, Mr. Khalid Fituri said: "Unable to sight the crescent on Thursday, Mar. 14th, from San Diego, California due to hazy sky."

  4. Guyana: ICOP member, Mr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "IT WAS REPORTED BY SULTAN HAFIZ (IMAM AND PRESIDENT OF ROSE HALL TOWN MASJID AND ROSE HALL TOWN ISLAMIC CENTER)THAT HE AND THE MEMBERS TRIED TO OBSERVE THE CRESCENT ON MARCH 14TH, 2002 AT SUNSET IN ROSE HALL TOWN, GUYANA. CRESCENT OBSERVATION WAS IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE HORIZON HAD MANY RAINY CLOUDS."

Friday 15 March

• Malaysia: ICOP member, Mr. Kassim Bahali said: "The western horizon was totally cloudy. The hilal was not seen. The first of Muharram begins on Friday 15 of March 2002. Happy new year to all Muslims."

• Brunei: ICOP member, Mr. Mahadi Mohamad Tahir said: " The crescent was first sighted on 19:15 and can be sighted for about 7 minutes. The altitude of the crescent was 3.5 degrees when it was first sighted."

• Maldives: ICOP member, Mr. Ahmed Salih said: "Thursday evening the horizon was much clearer than today and I tried to see the crescent but was not possible. But today (Friday) a very thin crescent was seen 13 minutes after the sun set. There were some clouds in the sky but the crescent can be seen nicely."

• Iran:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. Asadollah Khoddam Mohammadi mentioned that the crescent was seen by naked eyes.

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Saeed Janghorban mentioned that the crescent was seen by naked eyes.

• Saudi: ICOP member, Mr. Anwar Al Muhammad said: " Today (Friday 15 March) I was sighting the new crescent of Moharram after Maghreb Prayer and it was visible by naked eyes although there were thin clouds in the western horizon."

• Syria: ICOP member, Prof. Hasan Bilani mentioned that the crescent was seen by naked eye.

• Kenya: ICOP member, Mr. Mahmood Essa said: "I am happy to let you know that I managed to spot the new crescent quite easily this Friday evening , having thus completed 30 days. Tomorrow, Saturday 16/3/02 is thus the first day of Muharram 1423 for most of us here in Kenya. I take this opportunity in wishing all ICOP members a a happy, healthy, prosperous and Blessed New Hijri Year 1423."

• Nigeria:

  1. ICOP member, Dr. Sani Mustapha mentioned that the crescent was seen by naked eyes.

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Usman Dukku said: "The crescent was seen this evening, without difficulty, here in Bauchi."

  3. ICOP member, Mr. Isiaq Alabi said: "The Crescent for the Month of Muharram 1, 1423 was sighted here (Lagos, Nigeria) on the evening of Friday March 15, 2002. Hence, Saturday March 16, 2002 is the First day of New year, 1423. Happy new year, 1423 AH."

• Germany: ICOP member, Mr. Gerhard Ahmad Kaufmann mentioned that it was cloudy.

• USA: ICOP member, Mr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "I saw the new crescent without no difficulty or attemp on Friday, 15th March, 2002 in Springfield Gardens, New York at 6:30 pm."

Thursday 14 March:-

1. Mauritania

Friday 15 March:-

1. Malaysia
2. Maldives
3. Saudi
4. Jordan
5. Syria
6. Egypt

Saturday 16 March:-

1. Iran
2. Morocco
3. Kenya
4. South Africa