International Astronomical Center

Kindly click below to read the official statement of the "Crescents, Calendars, and Mawaqeet Committee (CCMC)" of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences (AUASS), For Ramadan & Al-Eid 1421 AH.

So far the Jordanian mass media response is good. Please find below some of these responses:-

The official meeting this year went great! During the discussion, they said since the astronomers say that the Moon will set before the Sun, then tomorrow Sunday 27 November is NOT the first of Ramadan 1421 AH! This decision was taken BEFORE knowing what Saudi or ANY other country will say! Thus, Ramadan in Jordan will be on Monday 27 November 2000, which is really great! Ramadan Mubarak!

So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent was on Sunday 26 November from USA (Houston).

Sunday 26 November

• Malaysia: ICOP member, Mr. Kassim Bahali said: " I and the hilal sighting committe have tried to see the cresent but the the western sky was cloudy. The cresent was not seen. Monday 27 November was declared by the government as the 1st of Ramadhan."

• Mauritius: ICOP member, Mr. Hamade Aubdoollah said: "Ramadaan crescent was not visible in Mauritius on Sunday 26th Nov 2000. Hence , Ramadaan begins here on Tuesday 28th Nov 2000."

• Iran: ICOP member, Mr. AliReza Mehrani mentioned that he couldn't see the crescenrt even by a telescope.

• Iraq: ICOP member, Mr. Tarek Katbeh mentioned that he couldn't see the crescent by both; naked eyes and binoculars.

• UAE: ICOP member, Mr. ABDULKARIM CHALERMTHAI said: "I and 3 members tried to see at Cornishe Break Water see side of Abudhabi, but it was cloudy in Abudhabi. Sunset=17.33 and moonset at=18.03 azimuth =240 degree, we can't see crescent today 26 nov. 2000"

• Yemen: ICOP member, Dr. Mojahid Najem mentioned that THE CRESCENT COULD NOT BE SEEN by naked eyes.

• Saudi:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. Saleh Al-Saab said: " UNFAURTUNATELY, IN MY AREA(RIYADH ) IT WAS TOTALLY CLOUDY ON THE WEST HORIZON . HAPPY RAMADHAN TO ALL OF YOU."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Anwar Al-Muhammad said: "In this particular day (Sunday 26 Nov), I asked my friends and students to sight crescent. Also, I tried to guide them how to locate the position and path of the crescent according to the positions of sun. Although crescent sets after 30 min of sunset, I could not see it neither by nicked eye nor binocular because the western horizon in my town (Qattef) was hazy, so sun was set 10 min earlier to actual sunset. Thus, regarding of official beginning of Ramadan one cannot decide easily that tomorrow (Monday 27 Nov) is the first day of Ramadan."

• Kuwait: ICOP member, Mr. Adel Hassan said: "IN KUWAIT CRESENT NOT SEEN BY UNAIDID EYES ON 26/11/2000. RAMADAN MUBARK."

• Jordan:

  1. Two groups of JAS tried to observe the crescent; one in Amman equipped with binoculars, while the other team went to Ash-Shoubak, which is 1630 meters above sea-level, equipped with a 10-inch computerized telescope. As for Amman, it was clear and no crescent was seen. While as for Ash-Shoubak, it was partly cloudy, but we could find very few and tiny gaps. However, no crescent was seen.

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Mohammad Murad said: " I did the observation from my house, but I got no results." He did the obseravtion by naked eyes and binoculars, and the weather was clear with some haze.

• Syria:
  1. ICOP member, Dr. Hassan Bilani mentioned that the sky was cloudy.

  2. ICOP member, Dr. AbdulKader Hamdo mentioned that the sky was cloudy.

• Sudan: ICOP member, Dr. Muawia Shaddad said : "It is good to know that nearly all of Muslims countries and Europe started Ramadan the correct way for the eye sighting criteria. I know Libya uses the criteria of conjunction before dawn and this was made clear to me. At the moment I am in Holland just finished attending the Climate Change conference which ended in no agreement. I would like to let you know that Sudan is starting Ramadan Tommorrow Monday the 27-11-2000."

• Algeria: ICOP member, Mr. Bankih Kacem said: "The crescent was not Seen from Beni Isguen, Mzab, Algeria. This is the result of 05 observation teams." Knowing that he used binoculars and telescopes.

• Mauritania: ICOP member, Mr. Abderrahmane Ould Beddi mentioned that he couldn't see the crescent by naked eyes.

• Kenya: ICOP member, Mr. Mahmood Essa said: "Mombasa was quite clear with some clouds. However we were not expected to see the crescent today and insha Allah we shall see it tomorrow so the first day for Ramadhan will be Tuesday 28/11/00 for us here in Kenya although some people will follow the Saudis as usual , particularly the Somali community !! May the Almighty Allah accept all our prayers and I wish all the ICOP members a Blessed and Happy Ramadnan."

• South Africa:

  1. ICOP member, Mr. Hashim Salie said: " Lots of cloud activity. No crescent was seen anywhere in South Africa. Unanomously agreed and declared that the 1st day of the fasting of Ramadaan 1421 shall be on Tuesday, 28 November 2000. Ramadaan Kareem. May Allaah accept our 'lbaadah Aameen."

  2. ICOP member, Dr. John Caldwell (SAAO) said: " Very mottled and colorful cloud bands with gaps. Not a good test of true visibility."

• Morocco: ICOP member, Dr. Hamid TOUMA said: " First of all I would like to express a Good and Happy Ramadan to all Muslims in the world. In Morocco, yesterday Sunday 26 November 2000, we have try to observe the Crescent juste after the Sunset (17 h 25 mn UT) but its was not seen. Yes there was a clear horizon but it has a color orange. We treid to observe it until 18 h UT, time of the Moonrise for Rabat, but it was not seen eighter by Naked eyes neigther by Binoculers And by other way, the Moroccan Gouvernment was announced during the TV information (20 h UT) that the first Ramadan in Morocco is the TUESDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2000. WA KOLI AMMINE WA ANTOUM BIKHAIR. Ramadane Karim for all Muslims in the World."

• Germany: ICOP member, Mr. Yucel Kadir mentioned that it was cloudy! He said: "Most of the Islamic communities (ZMD, Milli Gorus, DITIB) in Germany start Ramadan at Monday. Ramadan Mubarak"

• UK:
  1. Mr. Fazel said: "CRESCENT NOT SEEN. WEATHER @4.30 GMT WAS VERY BAD WITH HEAVY RAIN. Wasalaam."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Mohammad Baig said: "London was cloudy as usual but I we would not have sighted the crescent even if it was not cloudy. Most of the people will start Ramadan tomorrow to follow the Saudis where no sighting has taken place neither was it possible. May God accept our worship and a happy Ramadan to all ICOP brothers."

• Mexico: Mr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "THE CRESCENT WAS LOOKED FOR, IN GUADALAJARA, MEXICO AT 6:40 PM (SUNSET MEXICO TIME) ON 25TH AND 26TH OF NOVEMBER, 2000. ON BOTH DAYS THE CRESENT WAS NOT SEEN. ON THE 26TH OF NOVEMBER, 2000 THE HORIZON WAS OBSTRUCTED BY CLOUDS MAKING OBSERVATION DIFFICULT. IN GUYANA THE CRESCENT WAS LOOKED FOR AT ROSE HALL TOWN MASJID. THERE WERE NO CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON BUT THE CRESCENT WAS NOT SEEN ON THE 26TH NOVEMBER, 2000. ON MOONSIGHTING.COM, IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE CRESCENT WAS SEEN ON THE 26TH NOVEMBER, 2000 AT HOUSTON, DALLAS-TEXAS, TUCSON, ARIZONA AND IN GEORGETOWN- GUYANA. SINCE THE CRESCENT WAS NOT SEEN IN GUADALAJARA, MEXICO; BUT WAS SEEN IN THE AMERICAN REGION. THE FIRST DAY OF FASTING WILL BE 27TH NOVEMBER, 2000 IN MEXICO. RAMADAN KAREEM."

• Canada: ICOP member, Mr. Mohammad Farooq said: "In Hamilton on Nov 26th at sunset the crescent could not be seen because of rain. Hamilton Mosque declared Monday Nov 27 as 1st of Ramadan. May Allah accept our prayers and I wish happy Ramadan to all ICOP members."

• USA:
  1. ICOP member, Dr. Mohib Durrani (Corrdinator for Astronomical Information, Islamic Society of North America ISNA) said: "The Hilal for Ramadan was sighted at Beaumont, Tx and at Houston, Tx. and the reports have been confirmed. The reports from Houston was provided by Br.Zaheeruddin, coordinator for Hilal Sightings for ICNA. Hence ISNA has decided that 1 Ramadan is from Mon 27 Nov 2000 for USA/Canada."

  2. ICOP member, Mrs. Alphecca Muttardy said: "It was not possible to see the moon in Northern Virginia, since skies were totally clouded over. Please do post other negative sightings from the East Coast of America, especially where skies are clear, as they categorically refute claims of sightngs in the Middle East eight hours earlier. Did see a beautiful Ramadan crescent on Monday night, at the end of the first day of fasting. A very blessed Ramadan to you all!"

• Trinidad and Tobago: ICOP member, Dr. Shirin Haque-Copilah said: "It has rained all day and the sky was completely overcast."

Monday 27 November

• India: ICOP member, Dr. Sultan Ismail said: "Ramadhan Mubarak. The moon has been sighted in Chennai today the 27th November after Maghrib prayers in Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu."

• Iran: ICOP member, Mr. Asadollah Khoddam Mohammadi mentioned that the sky was cloudy.

• Kenya: ICOP member, Mr. Mahmood Essa said: "I am happy to report that I was able to observe the new crescent today quite easily , with naked eyes, and thus Insha Allah, tomorrow, Tuesday will be our first day of Ramadhan in Kenya. Most people will start fasting tomorrow as per our Chief Kadhi's directive although some elements have started today by blindly following the Saudis, as usual. May the Almighty Allah guide us all and he knows best."

• Nigeria: ICOP member, Mr. Aminu Lukuman said: "The crescent was seen clearly with the naked eye and was very tiny on Monday (27/11/2000) here in Lagos Nigeria at about 6.32 p.m. We The Zumratul Jamiu Mumin Society of Nigeria (ZMJSN) commence our fasting the following day i.e (28/11/2000) on Tuesday. Meawhile, the sky was very clear on Sunday (26/11/2000) and the crescent was not seen at all, but some religous group commence their fasting on Saturday (25/11/2000), most people in the northern Nigeria commence their own on Sunday (26/11/2000), while most people from the southern Nigeria commence their fasting on Monday (27/11/2000). None of these people waited for the crescent to appear according to the injuction of the Holy Quran before they commence their fasting. We the ZMJSN, observe the Crescent before we commence our fasting and we shall witnes it before commence oue Eid-Ftrl."

• Norway: ICOP member, Mr. Imran Mushtaq mentioned that the sky was cloudy and said: "Most of the Islamic communities in Stockholm/Sweden & Oslo/Norway started Ramadan at Monday. Ramadan Mubarak."

Sunday 26 November:-

1. Libya
2. Fiji Islands

Monday 27 November:-

1. Malaysia
2. Iraq
3. Yemen
4. Saudi
5. Kuwait
6. UAE
7. Bahrain
8. Qatar
9. Jordan
10. Syria
11. Lebanon
12. Palestine
13. Egypt
14. Sudan
15. Tunisia
16. Algeria
17. Mauritania
18. Germany
19. Norway
20. Sweden
21. Guyana
22. Trinidad and Tobago
23. USA
24. Canada
25. Mexico

Tuesday 28 November:-

1. India
2. Mauritius
3. Bangladesh
4. Pakistan
5. Iran
6. Kenya
7. South Africa
8. Morocco