Results of Observation
So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent was on Wednesday 17 October from Malaysia: by Mr. Kassim Bahali The crescent was also seen on this day from Iran, Saudi, Jordan, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, USA, Guyana , Trinidad and Tobago.
Wednesday 17 October
- Malaysia: ICOP member, Mr. Kassim Bahali said: "The hilal (young moon) was seen by binocular 7 x 50 and 8" Meade LX200 telescope. It was very thin crescent. The Hilal was seen after sunset at local tme 19:17 but disappear after 5 minutes later, due to covered by cloud."
- Brunei: ICOP member, Mr. Mahadi Mohamad Tahir said: " I was informed the crescent was not seen on the evening of 17th Oct because of the rain
and the authority decided the first of Syaban begins on Friday 19th Oct."
- Maldives:
- ICOP member, Mr. Muthasim Fahmy said: "The moon should have been visible for a short time. But the western horizon was a bit cloudy. Its still rainy season in the Maldives."
- ICOP member, Mr. Ahmed Salih said: "There were some clouds lower on the horizon and some little higher which passed away before the best time. However, the Crescent was not seen. By our Official Hijri Calendar today is 30th Rajab. Mooncalc Program shows visibility. This is the second time the crescent was not seen when this program shows visibility. The Age of the New Moon is 17+ hrs which could be the reason for not seen."
- Iran:
- ICOP member, Mr. Asadollah Khoddam Mohammadi said: "I saw the moon crescent at 17:56 by 20X50 binoculars. It was very thin. I tried to see it by 7X35 but I didn't saw it. Also my brother Abdullah saw the crescent by 20X50."
- ICOP member, Mr. AliReza Mehrani mentioned that he could see the crescent by binoculars.
- Yemen: ICOP member, Mr. Mojahid Najem said: "I couldn't see the crescent on wed. But Yemen has already started Shaban"
- Saudi:
- ICOP member, Mr. Anwar Al Muhammad said: "Around sun set of Wednesday, 17 October, we had tried to sight the new crescent of
Shaaban. But we could not see it although the western horizon was clear. We know from sky
simulation software that the crescent was above horizon with 8 degrees at sun set in our town
(Qateef-East of Saudi), and it was staying about 42 minutes after sun set. It is possible to
see such a crescent by nicked eye according to astronomical records. Although we were
sighting by using a telescope (30X-60X) we could not find it. We knew later that two persons
in other group have claimed that they saw it but it is difficult to accept their claim unless
it is confirmed by some other persons in different areas because the beginning of this month
(Shabban) is very important to know that for Ramadan. "
- ICOP member, Mr. Saleh Al-Saab said: "Two colleges had seen the crescent
in Riyadh by 10 inches telescope on Wednesday-10 2001 for about 15 minutes
, those are Dr. Zaki al-Mustafa and Mr.Abdurrahman Maghrabi .
On the other hand Wednesday is the first day of the month according to the
local calendar."
- Jordan: ICOP member, Mr. Moh'd Odeh said: "Despite the partly cloudy weather the crescent was seen by four JAS members by 10" computerized
telescope. The observers were about 25 persons, including Mr. Yahya Abu-Laban (The head of
Mawaqeet Department in Awqaf Ministry) and Al-Ridwan school."
- Syria: ICOP member, Dr. Hasan Bilani said: " The Western horizon was hazy and partly cloudy."
- Algeria: ICOP member, Mr. Bankih Bankacem said: "Western horizon was Partly Cloudy and hazy. The crescent was not seen."
- Morocco: ICOP member, Prof. Hamid TOUMA said: "I am pleased to inform you that the Moroccan Gouvernement has annouced
that the Crescent has been observed within area of the Kindom of Morocco
yesterday just after the Sunset; so the first day of Shabane in
Morocco is today Thursday October 18,2001. This decision is ok with the
astronomical prevision, because the New Moon was on 16 October 2001 at
19h 23 mn (UT) and on the day after, the Crescent has 23 hours of life
so it was goodly visible in the area where the clouds were not present.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish a good Mounth of Shaban
to all members of ICOP and to the all people Muslim in the World.
Thank you"
- Kenya:
- ICOP member, Mr. Mahmood Essa said: "I tried to observe the new crescent this evening of 17/10/01, with naked eyes, but regret to let you know it was not visible. The sky was fairly clear."
- Mr. Abdulrahman Mwinyifaki (PRINCIPAL/SECRITARY BORD OF GOVERNORS) said: "I have the pleasure to inform you that we have sighted the new cresent of Sh'aban today 17th October,2001 here in Mombasa, Kenya at a place called MIKINDANI AT AROUND 6.40PM local time. I was in the company of my students Kassim,Sh'aban and Jilo.We were standindig on the roof of the college."
- Mr. Ali Darani said: " This email is to confirm that, the Shaaban cresent was sighted yesterday in Mombasa, Kenya and Zanzibar, therefore, today Thursday, October 18, 2001 would be the first of Shaaban."
- South Africa:
- ICOP member, Dr. Muhammad Dockrat said: "Please be informed that the Jamaiatul Ulama Transvaal (Sooouth Africa) have, based on evidence presented to them, that the 1st day of Sha'ban 1422 will correspond to the 18 October 2001. "
- ICOP member, Mr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim Snr said: "he Sha'baan Hilaal was sighted from Signal Hill, Cape Town, at approximately 19h40 by a group of members of the Crescent Observers Society. This was a 'naked eye' sighting."
- Nigeria:
- ICOP member, Dr. Sani Mustapha said: "The crescent is not sighted today in Kaduna, Nigeria."
- ICOP member, Mr. Usman Dukku said: "Six of us searched for the crescent and five saw it in thin clouds about half an hour after sunset here in Bauchi. It was very thin."
- ICOP member, Mr. Isiaq Alabi said: "The crescent was sighted here (Lagos) on Thursday
(18/Oct/01). The Sky was cloudy on Wednesday (17/Oct/01)."
- ICOP member, Mr. Aminu Lukuman said: "The crescent was not seen on wednesday (17/10/2001)(after 29th day of
rajab)due to the thick cloud. But the sky was very clear on thursday (after
30th day of rajab) and the crescent was seen by the naked eye. However
October 18, 2001 is regareded as the first day of Shaban according to the
calculation done by The Zumratul Jamiu Mumin Society of Nigeria, after 29th
day of rajab"
- Bosnia and Herzegovi: ICOP member, Mr. Kemal Sehbajraktarevic said: "I tried to observe crescent from nearby hill (alt.900 m) but I didn't success. The western horizon was partly covered with thin clouds (cirrus fibratus)and haze what made the observing conditions litlle bit poor."
- Germany:
- ICOP member, Mr. Gerhard Ahmad Kaufmann mentioned that he couldn't see the crescent neither by binoculars nor by naked eyes.
- ICOP member, Mr. Kadir Yucel mentioned that it was partly cloudy.
- Canada: ICOP member, Mr. Mohammad Farooq said: "Hamilton Ontario Canada. Unable to sight, because the western horizon was totally cloudy."
- USA:
- ICOP member, Mr. Gulamabbas Khakoo said: "Sighted the crescent for the month of SHA"BAAN on 17th Oct. 18:37hrs local time in Buena Park, California. The top horn of the crescent was between 12 & 1 and the bottom horn of the crescent was between 7 and 8. October 18th, is the 1st day of SHA'BAAN."
- ICOP member, Mr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "I LOOKED FOR THE CRESCENT IN OPA LOCKA, FLORIDA, USA
ON 17TH, OCTOBER 2001, AT SUNSET. THE HORIZON WAS OBSTRUCTED BY RAIN CLOUDS MAKING CRESCENT OBSERVATION IMPOSSIBLE, IN FACT IT STARTED TO RAIN AS I ATTEMPTED TO LOOK FOR THE CRESCENT AT SUNSET. I SPOKE TO SULTAN HAFIZ, IMAM OF ROSE HALL TOWN MASJID IN GUYANA ON THE 17TH, OCTOBER 2001. HE TOLD ME THAT THE CRESCENT WAS SEEN AT ROSE HALL TOWN MASJID AT 6:05 PM GUYANA TIME ON THE 17TH, OCTOBER 2001."
- ICOP member, Mr. Khalid Fituri mentioned that he saw the crescent by naked eyes.
- Trinidad and Tobago: ICOP member, Dr. Shirin Haque-Copilah said: "Crisp crescent was clearly seen at 6.15 p.m."
