International Astronomical Center

So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent was on Thursday 28 September from South Africa by Mr. Hashim Salie of the Crescent Observers Society, and Dr. John Caldwell of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). On this day, the crescent was also seen from Algeria, Morocco, and Canada.

Thursday 28 September

• Indonesia: ICOP member, Mr. Suwandojo Siddiq said: "Regarding Hilal-sighting for Rajab 1421H, I observed on 29 September 2000 evening from my city Bandung, West Jawa Indonesia. But unfortunately, the west sky/horizon of Bandung, was still covered by dark cloud since THREE days before due to rainy season in Jawa Island."

• Malaysia: ICOP member, Mr. Kassim Bahali said: "I tried to observe the hilal but western sky was cloudy and thus I was not able to see the crescent." 1st Rajab on Friday, 29 September 2000"

• Iran: ICOP member, Mr. Asadollah Khoddam Mohammadi mentioned that he tried to see the crescent by naked eyes and binoculars, but the sky was hazy and the western horizon was partly cloudy.

• Yemen: ICOP member, Dr. Mojahid Najem said: "THE SKY WAS CLOUDY, NO CRESCENT COULD BE SEEN."

• Saudi:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. Saleh Al-Saab said: "IT WAS DUSTY HERE, THE SUN DISAPPEARED SEVEN MINUTES BEFORE THE REAL TIME. THE CRESCENT WAS 8 DEGREES ABOVE THE HORIZON AT SUNSET." Thus, no crescent was seen.

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Anwar Al-Muhammad said: "I tried to sight the crescent of Rajab but I could not see it. The western horizon was very hazy in my town (Alawjam). From sky simulation software we know that crescent will set 40 minutes after sunset which is in general enough to see the crescent. I also, advised my student to sight it, and some of them called me at 7 PM to tell me the same of what I saw. I can say Mabrok for the first month of 4 Horom months because the Crescent could be seen some where else."

• Syria: ICOP member, Dr. Jalal Khanji mentioned that the sky was cloudy.

• Kenya:

  1. ICOP member, Mr. Mahmood Essa said: "Regret to let you know, I looked for the Rajab crescent yesterday evening ( 28/9/00 ) but it was cloudy and thus I was not able to see the crescent."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Ali Darani said: "Regret to let you know it was cloudy yesterday and thus could not observe the new crescent."

• South Africa:

  1. ICOP member, Dr. John Caldwell of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), said: "Arrived after sunset. Clear but very low haze band. Handheld binoculars. Struggled long to see it by naked eye but then became plain." He mentioned that the crescent was seen by naked eyes as well as binoculars.

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Hashim Salie said: "The beautiful thin crescent moon was seen without any difficulty. 1st Rajab 1421 commenced corresponding to Friday, 29 September 2000."

• Algeria: ICOP member, Mr. Bankih Kacem said: "The observation by naked eyes was seen only once by only one person. We haven't any instrument to measure the altitude. The planet Mercury was seen by the naked eyes by only one person."

• Morocco: ICOP member, Dr. Hamid TOUMA said: "I am pleased to inform all members of ICOP that yesterday evening Thursday 28 September 2000, the Moroccan Government has officially announced in the National TV (Channel no. 1) that the first day of Rajab is today Friday 29 September 2000. They have seen the crescent within the Moroccan area yesterday. In Rabat it was no possible to observe the Crescent because the clouds. Astronomically is correct because the New Moon was been on the day before yesterday (Wednesday 27 September 2000) at 19h 53mn, and so 22 hours after it is possible to observe the Crescent (23hours of life). Thank you."

• Canada:

  1. ICOP member, Mr. Mohammad Farooq said: "ON THE 28TH OF SEPTEMBER IN HAMILON, ONTARIO, CANADA, THE HORIZON WAS VERY CLEAR AT SUNSET. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 9 DEGREES CELSIUS. RELATIVE HUMIDITY WAS 45%. BAROMETRIC PRESSURE WAS 102.9Kpa. THE LOCAL SUNSET TIME 7:08. AT ABOUT 7:25 MYSELF AND A FRIEND ABAD SHIEKH BOTH SIGHTED THE CRESCENT BY BINOCULARS THE AGE OF THE CRESCENT AT THIS TIME WAS 27 HOURS AND 32 MINUTES OLD AFTER 5 MINUTES BOTH OF US SIGHTED THE CRESCENT WITH THE NAKED EYES. WE WERE BOTH THRILLED WITH THE SIGHTING."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Sobhi Nahle said: " I observed the Hilal of Rajab , here in Toronto Canada the time was 19:34 EST (23:34 UT), Sunset here was at: 19:06 Age was 27 Hours & 41 minutes, but really it was hard to see I lost the sighting after a little while."

• USA: ICOP member, Mr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "I AM CURRENTLY IN NEW YORK CITY, AND DUE TO THE TALL BUILDINGS ON THE HORIZON AND THE SMOG, CRESCENT OBSERVATION WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE. I WILL BE BACK IN MEXICO BEFORE RAMADAN FOR CRESCENT OBSERVATION, INSHALLAH. I LOOKED AT THE ILDL CURVES FOR THE MONTH OF RAMADAN, FOR ALL OF THE CRITERIA (VISIBILITY) IT SHOWS THAT THE CRESCENT WILL BE OBSERVED BY COUNTRIES EAST OF THE U.S.A BEFORE. IF THIS HAPPENS, IT WILL BE MUCH EASIER FOR MUSLIMS ON THE EAST COAST OF THE U.S.A TO START FASTING WITHOUT WAITING 3-4 HRS ON THE WEST COAST. SINCE ICOP USES SHURA COUNCIL IN NORTH AMERICA AS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR CRESCENT OBSERVATION IN NORTH AMERICA, MAYBE SHURA COUNCIL CAN USE ICOP'S OBSERVATION IN COUNTRIES EAST OF THE USA, TO START THE MONTH THUS PREVENTING MUSLIMS ON THE EAST COAST TO WAIT LONG HOURS, WHICH HAPPENS MOST OF THE YEARS."

Thursday 28 September:-

1. Jordan
2. Saudi Arabia

Friday 29 September:-

1. Malaysia
2. Iran
3. Syria
4. South Africa
5. Morocco