Results of Observation
So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent was on 18 September from Maldives by Mr. Ahmed Salih. The crescent was also seen on this day from Iran, Turkey, Yemen, Saudi, Jordan, Syria, Algeria, Morocco, Nigeria, and USA.
Monday 17 September
- Brunei: ICOP member, Mr. Mahadi Mohamad Tahir said: "The crescent was not sighted on Monday, 17 September 2001. First of Rejab starts on
Wednesday 19 September 2001."
- Maldives: ICOP member, Mr. Muthasim Fahmy mentioned that he couldn't see the crescent eventhough it was clear.
- Qatar: ICOP member, Sheikh Salman Bin Jaber Althani said: "I tried but couldn't see it because of the haze and some dust on the western horizon"
- Saudi:
- ICOP member, Mr. Saleh Al-Saab said: "Due to the low altitude and the clouds, the crescent was not seen."
- ICOP member, Mr. Anwar Al Muhammad said: "Around sunset of Monday, 17 Sep, we had tried to sight the new crescent of Rajab as a group of about 15 persons. But all of us could not see it except two of us who claimed that they can see it. I know that the crescent was above horizon with at most 4 degrees at sun set in our town (Qateef-East of Saudi), which means that the crescent will stay at most 20 minutes after sun set. According to astronomical records it is almost impossible to see such a crescent. For this reason I asked one of those two persons to locate the crescent through my telescope (30X-60X) and he did but again no body of the group can see it even through the telescope. Then, I told it is not logical to see it by your naked eyes while the other normal people can not see it through a telescope which can show the ring of Saturn, I think they may saw some thing other than the crescent."
- Nigeria: ICOP member, Mr. Usman Dukku said: "Five of us searched for the crescent in the outskirts of the town but we did not see
the crescent. The western horizon was partially cloudy here in Bauchi."
- Bosnia and Herzegovi: ICOP member, Mr. Kemal Sehbajraktarevic said: "Unfortunately, the weather today was cloudy with havy rain so the observation couldn not be done. Officialy first day of Rejeb in Bosnia is tomorrow, 18.09.2001. According to the Moon
calculator the first seen of crescent could be tomorrow,18.09. therefore the first day of
Rejeb should be 19.09.2001. Rejeb mubarek to all brothers"
- USA:
- ICOP member, Mr. Gulamabbas Khakoo said: "Unable to sight the crescent this evening of Monday 17th Sept, 2001."
Tuesday 18 September
- Maldives: ICOP member, Mr. Ahmed Salih said: "The western horizon was clear except patches of clouds at lower horizon. Very narrow
crescent was seen 1823 when a bit cloud past away. Crescent would be seen for another at
least half hour before it will cover from lower clouds."
- Iran: ICOP member, Mr. Asadollah Khoddam Mohammadi mentioned that he could see the crescent by naked eyes.
- Turkey: Germany ICOP member, Mr. Gerhard Ahmad Kaufmann said: "Salam and greetings to all from my holidays in southern Turkey. It's a pleasure to do hilal-watching also abroad. :-) Hilal was easily visible with naked eyes shortly after sunset.
- Yemen: ICOP member, Mr. Mojahid Najem said: "The crescent was easly seen by many people"
- Saudi: ICOP member, Mr. Anwar Al Muhammad said: "It is great, a new crescent was seen by naked eyes today Tuesday 18 September 2001, but it was very thin. I think that it is difficult to see such a crescent for those people who do not take care for the new crescent even if they were in a flat area like a desert. It disappeared above the horizon at 6:25 pm local time, which means 17 minutes earlier to its time of setting. Mabruke for all Muslims the first Huroms Monthes, Rajab, specially ICOP members."
- Jordan: ICOP member, Mr. Mohammad Odeh said: "More than 50 persons gathered to observe the crescent, it was easily visible by naked eyes. A representative from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs attended the observation."
- Syria: ICOP member, Dr. Hasan Bilani said: "The crescent was easily seen by naked eyes ten minutes after sunset."
- Algeria: ICOP member, Mr. Bankih Bankacem said: "The Sky in Beni-Isguen was little bit hazy, but the crescent was seen by naked eyes."
- Morocco: ICOP member, Prof. Hamid TOUMA said: "I am pleased to inform you that the Moroccan Gouvernment has declared on Tuesday 18 Septembre 2001 the Crescent was seen within the Morocco country. So the first day of RAJAB is WEDNESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2001. This decision is correct and it's in concordance with the astronomy prevision, because as you know the New Moon was on Monday 17 September 2001 at 10h 27 mn (Universal Time). Just after the Sunset it was impossible -in Morocco- to observe the Crescent, because it had only 8 hours of life. But on the day after (i.e. Tuesday 18 Sep. 2001) the Crescent had 32 hours of life, so it was easy to observe, where the climate was favorable. I have one question addressed to some brothers who have declared that they have seen the Crescent on Monday 17 September 2001. They have been able to observe the Crescent on the Monday 17 September 2001 just after the Sunset in their Countries, where after the Sunset, the Crescent had only less than 8 hours of life. The New Moon was at 10 h 27 mn (UT) in the same day, so in Jordan for example the New Moon was at 13 h 27 mn (Local Time), so the Sunset was in this example at 18 h 30 mn (Local Time) so the Crescent had only 5 hours of life so it is impossible to observe it. Please I want have some response on this. Last Mounth you have declared that you were be able to observe a very young Crescent 13:36 hours of life, for me it is a World record, the last one was 14 hours in Hawaies islands where the climate is very good. Thank you so much."
- Nigeria: ICOP member, Mr. Usman Dukku said: "Seven of us searched for the crescent in the outskirts of the town(Bauchi) and we all saw the crescent, between clouds, at sunset."
- Germany: ICOP member, Mr. Kadir Yucel mentioned that it was cloudy.
- USA: ICOP member, Dr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "THE CRESCENT WAS NOT SEEN ON 17TH, SEPTEMBER 2001 AT SUNSET IN OPA LOCKA, FLORIDA, USA. THERE WERE NO
CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON. I SAW THE CRESCENT IN OPA LOCKA, FLORIDA, USA ON
18TH, SEPTEMBER 2001, AT SUNSET-8:00 PM."
