Visibility of Shawwal Crescent
(1426 AH)
- When to Observe Shawwal Waxing (NEW) Crescent ?
- AUASS Official Statement (Beginning of Shawwal)
- Shawwal Waxing (NEW) Crescent Observation Results
- The OFFICIAL First Day in Different Countries
- When to Observe Ramadan Waning (OLD) Crescent ?
- Ramadan Waning (OLD) Crescent Observation Results
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The geocentric conjunction (Geocentric New Moon) will occur Inshalla on (Wednesday 02 November 2005), at
01:25 UT. The countries which had started Ramadan on Tuesday 04 October 2005 will observe the crescent on Tuesday 29 Ramadan which is 01 November 2005, on this day it is totally impossible to see the crescent anywhere on Earth because the Moon will set before the Sunset and because the conjunction will occur after the Sunset. On the other hand, the countries which had started Ramadan on Wednesday 05 October 2005 will observe the crescent on Wednesday 29 Ramadan which is 02 November 2005, on this day , the program Accurate Times by Mohammad Odeh -according to Odeh criterion- showed that it is not possible to see the crescent from Asia, Europe, most parts of Africa and North America, where as it should be seen by optical aid with difficulty from extreme southern parts of Africa, and it should be seen by optical aid from central and South America, while it should be seen by naked eye with difficulty from western parts of South America, and it can be easily seen by naked eye from parts of the Pacific Ocean.
According to the actual sighting of the crescent, the start of Shawwal should be on Thursday 03 November 2005 in very few western and southern countries, and it should be on Friday 04 November 2005 in most parts of the world.
- Results of seeing the crescent, and the first day of the month in different countries will be added here Inshalla as we receive the reports from ICOP's members. If you wish to be a member in ICOP, or to know more about it, kindly click here.
Kindly Click Here to read the AUASS official statement regarding the beginning of Shawwal 1426. (Arabic Version)
Kindly Click Here to read the AUASS official statement regarding the beginning of Shawwal 1426. (English Version), translated by ICOP member Mr. Ahmad Kaufmann.
So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent was on Thursday 02 November 2005 from USA (AZ) by ICOP member Mr. Jim Stamm.
Tuesday 01 November 2005:
Wednesday 02 November 2005:
Thursday, 3rd Nov, 2005
I would like to know which astro consultant from within the group accepted the claim and what was the thickness of the lens on the eyes of these observers (obviously it is greater than a telescope). How can they see the Hilaal when North America was not in the visibility curve? I could not see it in Florida under clear skies and yet being closest to the Southern Hemesphere. Why did 7000 observers in South Africa could not see the Hilaal and the hundreds of Muslims in Guyana could not see it when they were in the Hilaal visibility curve? In all my years of monthly crescent observation that I regularly send to all of you, I never could observe the Hilaal in the zone of optical aid using my naked eye under perfect weather condition. ICOP members also have to do extensive preparations (line up the telescopes with the some stars) the night before to see the Hilaal and many times they are unsuccessful. Please say what special preparations were done by these observers with their naked eye when they were not even in the visibility curve? Thanks again for cooking the books as was done for the upside down crescent of last Ramadan 1425 AH. May Allah (SWT) reward all of you in full for last both Ramadan. When Fiqh Coucil satated they will accept sighting from South America (Chile) when we don't have any Muslims observers from that country in moonsighting.com, CFCOI and ICOP, I knew they will cook the books, since their policy was always sighting in North America. They never went with the Hilaal sighting of Muslims in Guyana in the past, how come all of a sudden they will follow Chile. They were looking for a way out and they got it so they can follow Saudi. I must say they are even better than the Saudi's, may Allah (SWT) reward them in full. The comments of ICOP members for the North America sighting is welcomed. The Muslims Astronomers will disect the report."
Eid Mubarak!
As Brother Hafiz requested, the date for the start of Shawwal for USA should be clearly indicated for both Thursday Nov. 3 and Friday Nov. 4. ISNA is not the governing "official" body. It is true that in some countries where people may start the Shawwal on two different days, we as ICOP members, report the day on which the governing body such as Ruet-e-Hilaal Committe in Pakistan announces the start of the month for that country. In this case, ISNA is not recognized by the US Govt as the governing body for the start of the Islamic month. As indicated by Brother Hafiz's comments and mentioned by Dr. Shaukat's comment on www.moonsighting.com, that among others, Ulema Council of North America did not agree with ISNA's results and have declared Friday as the start of Shawwal.
I also believe that the following comments needs to be added on to the ICOP results page.
I hope that I am not mistaken in my following comment. If I am, please feel free to correct me, It is interesting to note that ISNA in the past has not only relied on more than one sighting but also on the fact if a crescent was observed anywhere in USA, it should be been observed in locations west of that lobserved ocation. However, in this case, as far as I know, only one sighting was taken as confirmation in Phoenix, Arizona. I hate to dissect the report but when I did, it even became more mind boggling.
I truly await Dr. Shaukat's response (as he is consultant to ISNA) as to why ISNA declared the sighting valid when no other sighting west of it were reported. I note that telephonic conversation with the observer was probably done by Dr. Mohib Durrani.
Also, for me, it would be interesting to see what the visibility of the crescent truly (astonomically) was at Phoenix, Arizona. How likely (as a percentage wise) was it probable for some one to sight the crescent from Phoenix by naked eye? If some can do this, that would be great. Here is the location information for Phoenix:
longitude W112.1 and latitude N33.5. IT follows the Mountain Standard time.
Thursday, 3rd Nov, 2005
1. Fiqh Council of North America
Friday, 4th Nov, 2005
1. CFCO
ICNA Canada went on Friday, however ICNA USA went on Thursday because the temporary President over ruled Zaheer Uhdin decision (ICNA coordinator for monthly Hilaal sighting). ICNA USA has misled many many many Masjids in New York and should issue an apology/statement if they fear Allah. Because of the internal squabble within ICNA on finding a President, Muslims in New York and other states had to miss a day of fast."
Wednesday 02 November 2005 :
Thursday 03 November 2005 :
Friday 04 November 2005 :
The geocentric conjunction (Geocentric New Moon) will occur Inshalla on (Wednesday 02 November 2005), at
01:25 UT. On this day, it is impossible to see the old crescent from almost all parts of world. While on the previous day (Tuesday 01 November 2005) the program Accurate Times by Mohammad Odeh -according to Odeh criterion- showed that the OLD crescent should be visible by optical aid from parts of South America and most parts of Europe, while it should be seen with difficulty by naked eye from central parts of the world, where as it should be easily seen by naked eye from eastern parts of the world.
When to Observe Shawwal Waxing (NEW) Crescent ?
AUASS Official Statement (Beginning of Shawwal)
Shawwal Waxing (NEW) Crescent Observation Results
Thursday 03 November 2005:
Location = Tucson, Arizona (USA) Gates Pass
Longitude = 111.10 W
Latitude = 32.22 N
Elevation = 963 meters
Time Zone = -7.0 hours
Topocentric and local time values from “Accurate Times”:
Sunset (at sea level) = 17:38
Moonset (at sea level) = 18:00
Time from new moon at 17:43 = 22 hr. 10 min.
Moon lag time = 21 minutes
Relative Altitude = 4.00 degrees
Elongation from sun = 11.99 degrees
Crescent width = 21 arcseconds
Illumination = 1.1 percent
Crescent first observed through 8” SC telescope:
Time = 17:43
Altitude = 1.2 degrees
Lots of cirrus clouds interfered with the observation, but they were thinning and there were breaks.
The Moon wasn’t visible through the breaks until 17:43 at the predicted time and position. The image
was dull and smooth, and I didn’t note any other characteristics, because I wanted the others to see it.
However, at least four other people tried, but were not successful. Focus was very critical for this
observation, and I believe that was the reason for lack of success.
Friday, 4th Nov, 2005
10:00 pm EST, 02 Nov 2005 CE
Location: Phoenix, AZ
The following is the Hilal Sighting Report from Phoenix, AZ.
Assalam Alaykum Dr. Durrani,
Here is the report as requested.
Along with large group of brothers, we arrived at the sighting place shortly
before sunset. Mashallah we observed a beautiful sunset on a very clear skies.
at about 5:38pm. There horizon is very clear at the sighting place.
At about 5:42pm I saw the very thin, illusive hilal, to the left of of the
position where the sun had just set -- spanning the the distance from the
seven o'clock and two o'clock hand of an analog clock. The Hilal's elevation
was less than one finger width.
The hilal was indeed very, very thin and illusive as such continous observation
of it was limited to few seconds. I was only able to continually observe it
until about 5:41pm. [should be 5:51 pm. Mohib: this correction is based on
my telephone conversation with the observer and my notes of that conversation.
This correction to the time was done on 3 Nov 2005 at 6:00 am by Mohib.]
One other brother with the group, Brother ----- was able to see it at the point
it was first sighted. Our imam saw it at first sight but because of it's illusive
nature was not certain of his sighting.
I did not observe the hilal setting as it had become illusive once again just as
it neared the horizon."
1. Among a large group of brothers, only two have confirmed to see it. That tells me tales!
2. Even the imam was not certain that it was the hilaal that he saw.
2. Most Mosques of Greater Washington/Baltimore Area
2. Chicago Sunni Muslim Society
3. ICNA Canada
4. Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati
5. Islamic Foundation of Toronto
6. The Islamic organizations of Sistanig
7. Islamic Education Center of Houston
8. Islamic Education Center of Potomac
9. Jami'yyatul Ulama Canada
10. Majlis as-Shura of Philadelphia
11. North American Ulema Council
12. The Hilal Committee of Greater Toronto Area) - a body representing 71 mosques
13. The Khoei Foundation
14. Zaytuna Institute (Imam Zaid Shakir)
The OFFICIAL First Day in Different Countries
When to Observe Ramadan Waning (OLD) Crescent ?
