International Astronomical Center

The geocentric conjunction (Geocentric New Moon) will occur Inshalla on (Sunday 22 October 2006) at 05:14 UT.

So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent was on Monday 23 October 2006 by ICOP member Mr. Hossein Ebrahimpour from Australia, however, the most difficult sighting for the crescent by naked eyes was done on Monday 23 October 2006 by ICOP member Mr. Saleh Belfakih from Yemen and ICOP members from Algeria.

The most difficult sighting for the crescent in general was done on Monday 23 October 2006 by ICOP member Mr. Mohammad Zahed Aram from Iran, the crescent was seen by 20X120 binoculars.

Sunday 22 October 2006:

• Indonesia:

  1. ICOP member, Mr. Irfan Madani said: "Indonesia will celebrate Eid this year on Tuesday 24 October 2006. The decision's just been announced by the Minister of Religious Affairs following the decision meeting held after maghrib time tonight. This decision contradicts with some muslims in the country who will celebrate Eid tomorrow (Monday) for various reasons."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Suwandojo Siddiq said: "Iedul-Fithri 1427H in two different days in Indonesia. Regarding the establishment (decision) of the first day of Syawal-1427H, one of three big Islamic Organizations, “MUHAMMDIYAH”, has announced through its formal announcement letter, number 12/MI.M/I.0/E/2006, that 1-Syawal-1427 is corresponding to Monday Oct 23, 2006. In fact, at sunset of Sunday 22-Oct-2006CE, at Jakarta (6:08S 106:45E) moon altitude is = 0.401 deg. and moon age = 5.53 hrs. East most of Indonesia Merauke and westmost of ndonesia ACEH, the hilal set before sunset (negatif altitude). Up to this year, Muhammadiyah is still following (using) classical or traditional method : “Wujudul-Hilal”-method, that is “ijtima’ qabla al ghurub, and ghurubi’sh Shamsi qabla ghurubil hilal” (Conjunction before sunset and sunset before moonset)-method. At Sunday, 22-Oct-2006 at 20:00 (GMT + 7 hrs) through Indonesian TV channels, the Indonesian government (Ministry of Religion Affair), formally announced that the first day of Shawwal 1427 (Iedul-Fithri 1-Swl-1427H) will be corresponding to Tuesday 24-Oct-2006CE. This is the final result of consensus (agreement reached) among government and several Islamic Organizations in Indonesia (except Muhammadiyah). Note: Jakarta (06:08S 106:45E), at sunset Monday 23-10-2006, the moon alt = 10.571 deg., DAZ = -7.237 deg., moon age = 29.53 days, phase 1.53% and width = 0.41 ArcM. So the hilal will be visible, and the next day (Tuesday 24-10-2006) will be 1-syawwal-1427H. Insha-Allah."

  3. ICOP member, Mr. Mutoha MMC said: "From Parangkusumo Beach Yogyakarta, me and 6 members of Jogja Astro Club(JAC) and many persons from commitee for rukyah of Indonesian ministry of religion affairs tried to 'rukyat' for Syawwal 1427 crescent. Btw, the crescent was not seen from my place and no reported anywhere in my country. The 1st Syawwal was officially announced to be on Tuesday, 24 October 2006. However, some Moslems in the country (Muhammadiyah organization) have prepared to celebrate Eidul Fitr on Monday, 23 October 2006 since they use 'wujudul hilal' criterion (moonset after sunset) and do not perform the ru'yah. Thanks and Happy Eid al-Fitr. May Allah accept our worship, Taqabbalallahu minnaa wa minkum taqabbal ya Karim. Result for Rukyat Hilal Indonesia (RHI) by link here : http://rukyatulhilal.tripod.com"

• Malaysia:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. Abdul Majid Abdul Wahid mentioned it was cloudy.

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Kassim Bahali said: "The moon sighting ceremony was held at Khawarizmi observatory but the hilal was not seen. The western sky was totaly cloudy and hazy. The first day of Shawal was annaounced by the goverment will begins on Teusday,24 october 2006."

• Brunei Darussalam: ICOP member Mr. Hazarry Haji Ali Ahmad said: "Eventhough based on the astronomical calculation, the new moon set a minute earlier at sunset, but the sighting was being conducted as fulfillment the Islamic law. Syarie judges and officials from the Syariah Court, the Prime Minister's Office and several officers from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, with the cooperation of their counterparts from the Survey Department, Ministry of Development, were at several vantage points namely, Bukit Shahbandar, Jerudong, Brunei-Muara District; Bukit Ambok & Bukit Agok Shooting Range, Tutong District; and Bukit Lumut in Belait District failed to sight the new moon of Syawal. The announcement on the beginning of Hari Raya, the first day of Syawal, was official announced on 24 October."

• Philippines: ICOP member Mr. Abu Ammar Mama Mangorangca said: "The Muslim communities in the Philippines will celebrate eid on Tuesday, 24 October. Many groups tried to observe the hilal last night (Sunday) but there was no positive sighting of course. As in many other countries, there are Muslim groups in the Philippines who do not abide with the majority. Some are slavish followers of Saudi Arabia. So we have people who will celebrate eid today, Monday, but they comprise the minority."

• Sri Lanka: ICOP member Dr. Aqil Ahmad Sharifuddeen said: "The Authority to deal in the matter of starting the Islamic Month with authenticated naked eye sighting in Sri Lanka gathered in Colombo Grand mosque today Ramadan 29. This traditionally official body requested the Sri Lankan to look for the Shawwal Hillal today ( 22/10/2006 – Sunday). They were waiting after finishing Magrib prayers for any claim of naked eye sighting of Shawwal Hillal. They were well aware that moon remains only for 2 min. after sunset in Colombo. They received no claim until 8pm LT. The sky was cloudy all over the island and the climate was unsuitable for a faint thin crescent to be sighted if any. The official gathering was terminated as announcing "no Hillal was sighted today, Ramadan will end as 30 days and Eidul Fithr will be on Tuesday 24 th."

• Pakistan: ICOP member Mr. Shahid Iqbal said: "Western horizon was polluted and partially cloudy. The moonset time was 8 min before sunset at 5:32 LT. However the sky was scanned with 20*60 binoculars. But no moon was found. Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet on Monday 23 Oct 2006 for deciding the start of Shawal. However there are little chances of visibilty of moon in Pakistan even on Monday. Eid in NWFP will be celebrated on Tuesday on the basis of Sunday`s negative sighting."

• Oman: Mr. Mohammed Al Bussaidi said: "The western horizon was clear but the crescent moon was not sighted by Meade 10in SCT LX200."

• Iraq: ICOP member Mr. Bacil Moudhaffar said: "Crescent was not seen on Sun. 23/10/2006 from Baghdad even with Binocular."

• Morocco: ICOP member Mr. Othman Fadli mentioned that he was not able to see the crescent by naked eye despite the clear sky.

• South Africa: ICOP member Dr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim said: "The Shawwaal Hilaal was not seen anywhere in Southern Africa this Sunday evening, 22 October 2006. I tried binoculars but was unsuccessful. Field of vision was clear. Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated officially in Southern Africa on Tuesday, 24 October 2006 [ 1 Shawwaal 1427 AH ]."

• Nigeria:

  1. ICOP member Mr. Shuaib Abdul Raheem Agbarere said: "Sihgting of the new moon was trid by all members of lajinat with in and outside Ilorin but all the reports was negative i.e THE NEW MOON WAS NO WHER TO BE SEEN. also information form other grups and individals like moon sihgting society of Nig in Bauch and many others in Kano, Zamfara,etc is negative. In this regard Lajinatul_ Hillal is complting her RAMADAN (30) tomorow monday ,and celebrate Idi -L- fitr on Tuesday 1st Sawal 1427 Idi-l-Mubaraq."

  2. ICOP member Mr. Usman Dukku said: "We did not attempt sighting the crescent becauce of clouds. However as usual a minority celabrated the Eid today following the announcement by the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs that the moon was sighted in many places last night. Please note that the moon actually set before the sun in Nigeri that eveving. Most of Nigerians(the masses) will celebrate the eid on Tuesday, in sha Allah."

  3. ICOP member Mr. Bashir Sani said: "Once again history is reapeting itself in Nigeria. Nigeria is the only country in the world with an incredible moonsighting history. For example, this year there were sighting claims on Saturday evening when in reality, conjunction took place Sunday morning by 6:15am. Officially today Sunday October 22 is the first day of Shawwal and I learnt this year we are joined in this infamous club by Senegal. ICOP members should please the Nigerian to be able to mount a serious campaign to redress this madness. It has been achieved in Algeria, we will InshaAllah achieve it in Nigeria too in due course. It is worth mentioning that for the past 25 years (at least) both Sha'aban and Ramadan have been having 29 days each. We have NEVER officially in the last 25 years fasted for 30 days in Nigeria. Some ulama tend to mention that even the prophet (SAW) fasted for 30 days only a few times in his lifetime and use this as a justification. There is no astronomical input in the moonsghting verification system, many people tend to discourage it and yet the the same people marvel at the accuracy of eclipse predictions. ICOP memebers and people in the countryside will celebrate eid on Tuesday October 24, 2006 InshaAllah. Eid mubarak to all."

• Senegal:
  1. ICOP member Mr. Alexandre Ngom said: "Saturday October 21,2006 some witness in SENEGAL claimed having seen crescent in a Senegalese town named PODOR. So, some muslim has celebrated EID to day Sunday;October 22 in SENEGAL. Sunday; October,22 ,2006 some witness in different places in SENEGAL claimed having seen crescent So, a large part of muslims in SENEGAL will celebrate EID to morrow Monday October,23. Perhaps(to be confirmed) a last part will also celebrate EID at Tuesday,October 24 Seing the new crescent at October 21 and October 22 in SENEGAL is in contradiction with informations taken in the website icoproject. Can some body clarify this point? I inform that this contradiction is observed every year in SENEGAL". Mr. Ngom added in another email: "The official committee of moonsighting of SENEGAL have confirmed that 1(first) SCHAWAL will be Monday,23 october,2006 in SENEGAL because many people in several different places claimed having seen the hilal to day Sunday,22 october 2006 with naked eyes so EID EL FITR will be officially celebrated in SENEGAL on Monday ,23 october 2006 by the almost totality of muslims.I request you to put the official date of EID in SENEGAL for Monday,23 october 2006. Some muslims(minorities) have celebrated EID today 22 october 2006 in SENEGAL because some witness claimed having seen the crescent whith naked eyes at Saturday,21 october in a town named PODOR in SENEGAL."

  2. ICOP member Mr. Abu Ammar Mama Mangorangca said: "The alleged sighting of hilal at Podor town on Saturday evening, October 21, is simply a false sighting. The witness might have seen some object like a small cloud formation or other items that resemble a crescent. This is sometimes encountered even by experienced observers. But the fact is that no moon was in the sky following sunset at Podor on Saturday. The town is located along the Senegal River just below the border with Mauritania, some 345 kilometers northeast of Dakar, with coordinates of 16 degrees 39 minutes North and 14 degrees 58 minutes West. Here are some details on October 21:
     - Moon's age at sunset - minus 10 hours, 38 minutes (before conjunction)
     - Moon altitude at sunset - minus 7 degrees 10 minutes (below horizon)
     Hence, the moon was below the horizon even before sunset and there was no moon to see at the time. The situation on the following evening is similarly unfavorable for observing the hilal."

• Tanzania:

  1. ICOP member Mr. Hamza Rijal said: "The Hilaal for SHAWAL was not sighted in tiny island of Zanzibar (Sunday, 22 October 2006). We do expect to celebrate Eid tomorrow on Tuesday, however some of our brothers they joined Saudi Arabia and they pray Eid today. We are engulf with grat Fitna, lets pray to the almighty Allah to show the right path on solving tis problem. "AMIN" ."

  2. ICOP member Mr. Zaffar Sheriff said: "No serious attempts were made to search for a 10hour crescent. Eid In Tanzania celebrated on Tuesday 24th Oct after completing 30 fasts. Alhamdu Lillah"

• Malawi: ICOP member Mr. Y.M.Lambat said: "In Malawi, we did not sight the Hilaal so we are celebrating the Eid ul Fitre on Tuesday."

• Spain: ICOP member Mr. Muhammad del Pozo mentioned it was cloudy

• UK:

  1. ICOP member Mr. Farouk Valimahomed said: "The local South London Mosques namely Balham Mosque, Tooting Islamic Centre, South London Islamic Centre, Norbury Mosque, Croydon Mosque and Battersea met at Maghrib and concluded to complete 30 days of Ramadhan for Monday 23rd October. Eid ul Fitr will be InshAllah on Tuesday 24th October. We are a minority of Mosques currently within London but do represent at least 25000 Muslims. The onslaught of Media by giving coverage to Saudi news impacts on us here heavily. However, increasingly Alims are waking upto astrnomical data for reference and striving to observe dates correctly. May Almighty Allah for future increase our membership and finally get UK to observe on the correct dates."

  2. ICOP member Mr. AbdurRashid Ayoubi mentioned it was cloudy.

  3. ICOP member Mr. Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti said: "Negative sighting. We attempted the obligatory sighting at the end of the 29th day of Ramadan (Sunday, 22 October 2006), despite the new moon is not expected to be visible locally today. It is raining and the horizon is overcast, and hence there was no possible sighting anyway. We received the report from Fez, Morocco of negative sightings by moonspotters despite clear skies and the authority there declared that the month of Ramadan is to complete its 30 days. Although the crescent is not expected to be sighted locally till Tuesday, this news and the expectation that there will be positive sightings east to our longitute on Monday are sufficient for us to complete this month like Morocco and establish the new month [thubut al-hilal] of Shawwwal in the UK to be on the day after tomorrow, Tuesday, the 24th of October, instead of Wednesday (a lesson in itself about the precedence [taqdim] of an easterly sighting over the local sighting-zone in Fiqh). 'Id Mubarak!"

• Canada:ICOP member Dr. M A Mukati said: "Here in Canada it is announced that new moon is not sighted any ware in North America. Therefore Eid Will be on Tuesday, 24 -Oct- 2006. However small number of people who are following ISNA (calculation) or Saudi Arabia are going to celebrate eid on Monday."

• USA:

  1. Dr. Muhammad Siddiqui said: "It is a very sad day today. Last night, the devil cast his doubt once more. There were reports of sightings in New York, Arizona, Texas, and California. It is the California sighting that encouraged many to not fast today and celebrate Eid. Royate hilal committee of North America (moonhotline.com) and Zaytuna institute are among the two major groups not accepting the California claim. Shaykh Hamza Yousef, Mufti Qamrul Hassan, and Shaykh Ghufran Siddiqui had announced tuesday as the 1st of Shawal and were committed to thier decision. I had read that on the day of Eid, angels descend to earth and stand upon every street in every city to recognize and salute the believers as they set out for the prayers. Eid is not for those who wear new cloths upon that day, it is for those who have fear with in thier hearts. May Allah grant this ummah fear within our hearts, the love of the unity of one, the love of one upon whom Allah and his angels send greetings and salutations upon."

  2. ICOP Member Mr. Ahmad Raza Khan from (Owings Mills, MD) said: "Insha Allah, Eid-ul-Fitr in USA will be celebrated both on Monday Oct. 23 (ISNA using astronomical calculations) and also on Tuesday Oct. 24 (ICNA and other organizations) using real sighting methods."

  3. ICOP member, Mr. Gulamabbas Khakoo from (Pico Rivera, CA) said: "On Sunday, Oct. 22nd we were around 10 people in the city of Pico Rivera, CA. tried to sight the Shawwal crescent with naked eye and with binoculars between 6:10pm to 6:55pm, but were unsuccessful. Sighting area was very clear. 22nd Sunday Weather Condition at 5:53pm is as follows: Wind: Variable 3MPH. Pressure: 29.87. Visibility: 10.0 miles. Humid: 40% Cond.: Fair. Temp: 76deg. F. I do not understand how other friends from California and Arizona were able to sight the crescent. Scientifically and per calculation it was not possible to see. Per moon phases calculations there was no illumination of the crescent on Sat. 21st or on Sunday 22nd. This must have been a Great Mo'jeza!!!! from ALLAH."

  4. Dr. Youssef Ismail said: "We did not see the moon at Windy Hill Open Space preserve. 6 adult men and 5 adult women.

     Report from San Diego, CA - No moon sighted (Muhammad Yahya and his group) clear skies and clear horizon.

     Report from Granada Hills CA - Reported sighting the moon. Three men I interviewed were generally consistent. There were however some inconsistencies. The main person had some experience in sighting the moon. Said he first saw the moon at 6:19 pm, 2 minutes after the astronomical moonset. Said he saw it for 5 minutes before it set. Location of the viewing was verified to be at approximately 1600 feet above sea level, and looking to the West-South-West at azimuth of 257 degrees to about 248 degrees the range between sunset and moonset placed their visibility across the Santa Susana mountain range that peaks in the direction of moonset at 2238 feet above sea level, approximately 600 feet higher than their location. From their location the moon's altitude was only 44 minutes and 58 seconds of arc at the time of sunset. From their location to the top of the peak at 2238 feet in the line of sight of where the moon would be at sunset and moonset, the altitude would be based on the additional elevation of 600 feet over the 6 mile difference from their location to the peak, thus giving the peak behind which the moon set an altitude of a little more than 1 degree or 60 minutes of arc. Thus at the time of sunset the moon's altitude was already lower than the perceived altitude of the peak. The first person claimed to have seen the moon for about 5 minutes with its upper limb at approx 2pm and its lower limb at about 7 pm. He said he saw it first and then pointed it out to the other 5 people with him and all saw it.

     The second person interviewed said they saw the moon after 6:15pm maybe around 6:20pm again possibly after astronomical sunset. Claimed that they saw it for about 8 to 10 minutes before it went behind the mountains, but it actually disappeared before going behind the mountains. Claimed they saw it with both the naked eye and with binoculars. It was the first time this person had gone out to look for the moon. He was unsure of the locations of the limbs of the moon. The lower limb around 6 or 7 pm and upper limb at about 9 pm! As it was setting he claimed that it did move towards the right. Claimed that the first experienced person above made reference to a website that showed what the moon should look like and said that the experienced sighter told them it did look as the website suggested, but he did not what website it was.

     The third person said sunset was around 6:13 or 6:14pm or maybe a couple of minutes after that. Astronomical sunset at their location was at 6:10pm. He said the sky turned orange. at about 6:18 pm they called in to the masjid to have the imam come up to see the moon as this is when they first saw it, again after astronomical moonset. Claimed it was visible for 6 to 7 minutes and was seen with binoculars but was also visible with the naked eye. He mentioned that the moon gave off an orange color, that is the color of the moon looked orange! The moon was moving down and it disappeared before going down behind the mountains, maybe a minute or two after 6:18pm. At about 6:20 pm the person they called finally arrived but the moon had already set. They had no clouds, but it was a little smoggy but not to bad. The upper limb of the moon was at about 2pm and the lower limb was about 5pm or 6pm and thought that its location in the sky was to the right (north) of the sunset position.

     I personally interviewed each of these brothers individually.

     Attached are topographical maps showing their location and lines of sight of the sunset position, moon position at the time of sunset and the line of sight of where the moon set. along each line of sight there are mountain peaks higher than their elevations."

• Guyana: ICOP member Dr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "Please archive my entire email below on ICOP Shawwal 1427 AH site so as to document the error of the Eid in Guyana (I will use this as a future presentation from ICOP to fix/address this problem in Guyana, InshaAllah). I have started to introduce ICOP website to Imams in Guyana and this information will be vital to them.

  Myself and the members of Rose Hall Town Masjid and Islamic Center tried to observe the Hilaal after sunset on Sunday, 22nd October, 2006 in Guyana. The Hilaal was not seen although we had clear skies. This was also the same for other Muslims Communities throughout Guyana.

  Based on the Hilaal visibility curve not being over Guyana, Suriname, the Caribbean, and North America the Muslims in Guyana were prepared to celebrate a united Eid Ul Fitir on Tuesday, 24th October, 2006 with the majority of the Muslim Ummah as they have been doing for the past years. Unfortunately, Mufti Ramazan of the Central Moonsighting Committee of Guyana went ahead and accepted the Shahadah performed by Mufti Basheer in Suriname on someone who claimed to have sighted the moon in Suriname although Guyana and Suriname are not in the visibility curve making any claim of Hilaal sighting impossible and illogical to accept. Mufti Ramazan was reminded by some Muslims/Imams that Guyana and Suriname are not in the visibility curve and no Hilaal was seen throughout Guyana under clear skies and the same applied to North America. Therefore, how can the Hilaal be seen in Suriname when it could not be verified by sighting under clear skies in Guyana. I spoke to the Murshid of the Guyana Islamic Trust who sits on the Committee of the Central Moonsighting Committee of Guyana with Mufti Ramazan. I asked him if he knew that Suriname was not in the visibility curve, so how is it logical to claim Hilaal was seen in Surname when it could not be seen in Guyana under clear skies? Were these observers in Suriname super humans? He could not answer by question. I asked him if he discussed this point with Mufti Ramazan and he stated no. I also reminded him that the prominent Sahabaha Anas (RO) claim of sighting the Hilaal was rejected by Omar (RO) because it was an error. If a sighting error of a Sahabaha (who is better than all of us) was rejected, then why is it difficult for the Central Moonsighting Committee to reject the error from Suriname when it is so obvious. Again no answer.

  I asked since the Shahadah was accepted by Mufti Basheer in Suriname, if the second part of the Hilaal verification process was performed by asking for basic Hilaal sighting parameters which I will send to the Muslims experts at ICOP,and CFCO etc, to verify such sighting claim. He did not have these parameters although he sits on the Committee. I wonder what is the purpose of the Committee, if they do not find it necessary to ask for the basic sighting parameters of the claim and just to use the first half of verification (Shahadah) only, especially when it was impossible to sight the Hilaal in Suriname and Guyana. If this is the objective of the Committee, then they should have accepted the Shahadah of erroneous sighting from Nigeria and Sengal on Saturday, 21st October, 2006. I will InshaAllah try to get these sighting parameters from him and Mufti Ramzan to send to the Muslim experts at ICOP etc after the Eid, since it seems as if this is “another record sighting” uncovered by Mufti Ramazan, Mufti Basheer and the Guyana Islamic Trust, and they are fixed on making Muslims in Guyana miss 1 day of fasting (by not completing 30 days of Ramadan) to follow a irrational sighting claim that clearly demonstrate the doubt/zan that divide Muslims for Eid Ul Fitir in Guyana.

  As a result of this great blunder of the Muslim leaders from the Central Moonsighting Committee. The Rose Hall Town Masjid, New Amsterdam Masjid and many others Masjids in Berbice, including the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (that influence a great number of Masjids in Guyana) have decided to complete 30 days of Ramadan and celebrate Eid Ul Fitir on Tuesday, 24th October, 2006 since there was no confirmed sighting in Guyana, Suriname and North America. Hence, Eid Ul Fitir for the majority of Muslim in Guyana will be on: 1st Day- Tuesday, 24th October, 2006. Please post the entire email/correspondence above on ICOP to reflect the error in Guyana. I have started to introduce ICOP website to Imams in Guyana and this information will be vital to them. InshaAllah, I will report on Hilaal sighting on Monday. When I get the false sighting parameters I will email and would appreciate the input from ICOP, CFCO etc."

Monday 23 October 2006:

• Australia:

  1. ICOP member Mr. Sam De Francesco said: "Eid Mubarak! Alhamdulillah the moon was easily sighted in Sydney tonight. Therefore the first day of Shawwal according to moonsighting is Tuesday, 24th October 2006. As usual, the community was split, with some Mosques in Sydney celebrating Eid today, Monday 23rd."

  2. ICOP member Mr. Afroz Ali said: "Alhamdulillah, the crescent was sighted tonight Monday 23rd October, here in Sydney Australia. The first sighting here in Sydney was observed by sidi Sam De Francesco (another member of ICOP from Sydney), via binoculars, at approximately 6.25pm local time. The first naked-eye sighting was confirmed at approximately 6.33pm. The first day of Shawwal, therefore, will be Tuesday 24th October, 2006, in Australia."

  3. ICOP member Mr. Salah Sukkarieh said: "Photos can be seen at ( http://www.hilalwatch.org ). The moon was seen at 6:40pm by the naked eye and could continuously be seen till about 7:00pm when it went behind clouds. Eid Mubarak to all."

  4. ICOP member Mr. Hossein Ebrahimpour said: "Shawwal Crescent was sighted by naked eye on Monday 23/10/06 6:47 PM at the Newcastle City, NSW, Australia. (photo is attached) The EID Al FITR in Australia will be Teusday 24/10/06. EID MOBARAK."

     Monday 23 October 2006
     Click on the Photo for Larger View
     By ICOP member Mr. Hossein Ebrahimpour.

• India: ICOP member Mr. Mohamed Amin said: "On Monday the Positional Astronomy predicted the sighting under B categary--- Visible if perfect condition. The altitude at Sunset was mentioned 8:05 Degree. No one could see the moon even phase would have been 1.6% as per Astronomical Clock Software. On Tuesday 24th October, in India the crescent found very thin and at very low altitude all over India only. The Eid celebrated in most of the country on Wednesday. However Few places celebrated Eid on Tuesday also but there was no Moon sighting report from anywhere that the mass or many people would have seen it. Not a single City either small or Big witnessed the moon seen by many people though the Sky and climate both were perfact! So the Tuesday Eid was either on account of just ONE DAY AFTER SAUDI!!!! Only on Tuesday all most every one could see the Moon."

• Pakistan:
  1. ICOP member Mr. Shahid Iqbal said: "Shawal moon was not seen here in Mardan, Pakistan on Monday 23 October 2006. There are very slight chances of sighting in the costal areas of Karachi,Gawader, Ormara and Jiwani.Therefore Eid-ul-Fitr in Pakistan is expected on Wednesday 25 October 2006."

  2. ICOP member Mr. Fahim Hashmi said: "Islamabad: The Ruet-i-Hilal committee of Pakistan announced on Monday that the Shawal moon was not sighted anywhere in Pakistan thus Eid-ul Fitr will be celebrated on Wednesday. This was announced by the central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee of Pakistan headed by Chairman of the committee, Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman here today."

  3. ICOP member Mr. Saiful Islam said: "I along with my son, went out into open space at around 1740 LT to look for the moon. The view was unobstructed. But the western horizon was covered with light clouds. There were four other young men trying to sight the crescent by using binoucluars. The crescent was not seen and we gave up at about 1755 LT. The official Central Committee for Crescent Sighting announced that crescent was not seeen in any part of Pakistan on 23rd October 2006, therefore first day of month of Shawal is declared as 25th October 2006, Wednesday."

• Iran: ICOP member Mr. Mohammad Zahed Aram said: "I used the 20*120 binoculars, there were about 30 people with me, but only 4 guys could see the crescent. My observation location : 27:15N, 62:31E Kalporakan village, there was a free of cloud space above 4 degree of horizon."

  Monday 23 October 2006
  Click on the Photo for Larger View
  By ICOP member Mr. Mohammad Zahed Aram, through 20*120 binoculars.

• Yemen: ICOP member Mr. Saleh Belfakih mentioned that the crescent was seen by naked eyes by several astronomy amateurs, and he added that the sky conditions were superb.

• Kuwait: ICOP member Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: "In Salmy desert of Kuwait near the Saudi Iraqi border I and a group of 160 persons could not see the crescent even with 20*60 binocular. The western horizon was hazy that the sun disc disappeared at 17:01 whle our local sunset was at 17:14 thats 13 minutes before its local sunset. Other group of 50 persons with Mr. MOHAMMED al Saiagh also could not see the crescent at another site in Kuwait."

• Saudi Arabia:

  1. ICOP member Mr. Anwar Al-Muhammad said: "More than 80 parsons tried to sight the new crescent of Shwwal-1427, almost 1 hour before the time of sun set in Monday, 23 Oct 2006, in the eastern area of Saudi Arabia “Al-Aujam- 26:33N, 49:47E” at the observatory of Qatif Astronomy Society (QAS). We used a computerized 10” LX-200, GPS, telescope and binoculars. We were in contact with the other three groups, one of them was in Ahsa (Eastern Province), the second was 200km east of Riyadh. Both of them used computerized well aligned telescope. The third group was in Almadinah Almonwwarah. The western horizon was partially cloudy in all of these areas. So, the result was negative in all of them. The rest of the detail was available at : www.qasweb.org and on QAS forum: http://qasweb.org/qasforum/index.php?showtopic=4605."

  2. ICOP member Mr. Saleh Al-Saab said: "We were directed to see the crescent Saturday !!!!! but there was no chance as we beleive. ON Sunday we felt free to not try it, but on Monday there was a little chance but the weather was not helping."

• Bahrain: ICOP member Mr. Fathi Mayoof said: "Although I determined the "exact" location of the crescent with aid of planets' locations "mercury and jupiter" I couldn't observe the crescent. Yallop Criteria suggest a possible obseravation with optical aid. However the low altitude of the crescent and the high humidity & smoke near the horizon prevented that possibility of seeing the crescent."

• Libya: ICOP member Mr. Salem Sahid mentioned that the crescent was not seen by naked eyes despite the clear sky.

• Tunisia: ICOP member Mr. Sahli Taieb said: "I confirm that today (Monday 23 October 2006 ) I went at 16h32 GMT ( Sun set time) to a good exposed place ( 36°43 North 10°21 East ) with 4 of my friends , the horizon in west was so clear ( no any cloud ) we searched to see the cerescent using a binocolar all around its presumed place ( Alt=3,5°; Azt= 240,261° ) until 17h15 GMT and we didn't see it."

• Algeria:

  1. ICOP member Mr. Bankih Kacem said: "More than ninty (90) observer were present in Merkiche station with 10 different binoculars. The new crescent was seen by one person, member of the club AMNIR, by a 20x60 binoculars. Jupiter was seen by naked eyes a few minutes before. Aid mubarek for all."

  2. ICOP member Mr. Houcine Ch-aissa said: "More than sexty (60) observer were present in N'tissa station with 08 different binoculars and one telescope. The new crescent of shawwal was seen by three persons by naked eyes and one by a Binocular, member of the club CHIKH AMMI SAID AMATEUR OF ASTRONOMIE. Jupiter was seen by naked eyes 15 minutes before."

• Nigeria: ICOP member Mr. Usman Dukku said: "It was again cloudy here in Bauchi. However I participated in a virtual moonsighting exercise(through the phone)with my relations at Dukku(150 km NE of Bauchi)where the sky was clear and the moon was popularly sighted. We also received a positive sighting report from our representative in Gombe(150 km east of Bauchi)where the moon was also popularly sighted. He added "the crescent was thin and it set shortly after maghrib prayer."

• Germany: ICOP member Mr. Gerhard Ahmad Kaufmann mentioned it was cloudy.

• USA:

  1. ICOP member Mr. Javad Torabinejad from (Pilot Mountain, NC) said: "This evening (Monday, 23rd of October), we were unable to sight the moon in Pilot Mountain State Park, NC. Using a pair of binoculars (7X50), I was able to see Jupiter and Mercury in the opening patches and not the moon. The lower part of the horizon was covered by clouds and thick haze making it impossible for the moon to be seen."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Gulamabbas Khakoo from (Long Beach, CA) said: "I was in Long beach CA, on Monday, Oct. 23rd, from 6:00pm to 7:pm. Unable to sight the crescent for the month of Shawwal 1427. The main draw back was thick cloud at the sighting area. As we have completed 30days of fast, Inshallah we will be celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr on Tuesday, Oct. 24th, 2006. The weather condition on Tuesday, Oct. 23rd is as follows: Visibility 10.0 miles. Pressure 29.84in. Humidity 40%. Wind: from NW at 9 mph. Temp: 69 deg. F ( Mostly Cloudy)."

  3. ICOP member, Mr. Qaiser Imam said: "The new moon for the month of Shawwal was not sighted in Greater Austin today (10/23/2006) although the area were moon could be sighted was clear. The right side of the sunset was partly cloudy. We have received confirmed and credible moon-sighting report from Brother Muhammad Ishtiaq and his family (818-497-7640) from Los Angles, California on the eve of Monday, October 23, 2006. Alhamdulillah Tuesday, October 24, 2006 will be the 1st day of Shawwal. Eid Mubarak. On behalf of Hilal Committee of Greater Austin. The moon was not sighted in Greater Austin, Texas on Sunday, October 22, 2006 although it was extremely clear sky and excellent weather condition for moon-sighting."

• Guyana: ICOP member Dr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "Myself and the members of Rose Hall Town Masjid and Islamic Center tried to observe the Hilaal on Monday, 23rd October, 2006 after sunset in Guyana. Due to rainy clouds on the horizon observation was made impossible. Please post on ICOP website that Tuesday, 24th October, 2006 is the first day of Shawwal for: 1. Guyana. 2. USA (The Majority of Masjids: Zaytuna Institute, all Masjids with Ulema Council, and all Masjids with Hilalsighting.org and many more etc). 3. Canada. I agree with Br. AbdurRahman Kirch observation and email below. Your images of the observed Hilaal and energy spent to practice this Sunnah can be published at Islamic Crescents Observation Project for all to see, especially since many Muslims/Imams in Guyana no longer trust or follow www.moonsighting.com. Many of them claim that this website is no longer credible.....especially with the false claims of Shawwal sighting in North America on Sunday that is propagated on this site so as to justify the dates of ISNA/FC calculated calendar. One brother in Guyana printed information from this website made several copies and was distributing it among Muslims and Imams of ISNA/FC date for Eid. This created alot of argument and division among Muslims. When I directed one Imam to ICOP who stated he was checking www.moonsighting.com daily for information that was contradicting and misleading, he quickly red and printed the information from ICOP page and gave it to the brother who was using www.moonsighting.com info to create division. If this level of division due to disinformation is seen in Guyana I wonder what was the situation in North America? It seems as if ISNA/FC and www.moonsighting.com has succeded to divide and create more choas in North America, more than any other year among Muslim communities. No wonder my report on the Negative Hilaal Observation under clear skies from the entire Guyana on Sunday, and the false Suriname report/explination was not published on the Shawwal page so that the truth can be kept hidden. Past years my reports were promptly published at www.moonsighting.com . It will be good also if Br. M. Odeh can update the site for Ramadan, Shawwal and Zul Hijjah sightings on time since this will help Imams/Muslim to make the correct decision. I am very happy Hamza Yusuf and Imam Zaid Shakir from Zaytuna Institute (www.zaytuna.org) have established www.crescentwatch.org. They are not politically motivated and their only objective is to follow the Quran and Sunnah. I hope InshaAllah, this site will replace those that spread disinformation and division and will set the standard for Hilaal sighting in North America. The level of Islamic education and the qulaity have made them internationally recognised and I have no doubt Allah (SWT) will bless this project. I pray InshaAllah that Allah (SWT) continue to guide and bless them along with Ulema Council and Hilalsighting.org etc. And may he guide all of us back to the Sunnah. If there was any Hilaal to be seen on Sunday in the Americas, this should have come from a country such as Chile in South America on its South Western tip. Mufti Ramazan called the Islamic Centers in Chile and he was told that no Hilaal was observed in Chile. I wonder if the Hilaal visibility curve was in the Southern Hemisphere, and not even in the Northern Hemisphere or on North America....how can any claim of Hilaal sighting be true as announced on www.moonsighting.com from North America. If the Muslims in Chile could not see it, how can anyone believe sighting in North America, as announced by www.moonsighting.com? This was the main reason why Suriname and all of North America's sighting claims on Sunday were rejected by the Majority of Masjids in Guyana. Needless to mentioned the negative sighting from the entire Guyana under clear skies. I think this has been one of the most divided Eid Ul Fitir primarly due to disinformation that caused many Muslims to make sighting errors in North America. It seems as if ISNA/FC website is going very little to propagate their new calculated calendar that tries to coincide the dates with Saudi Arabia while www.moosighting.com is doing all the work of trying to convince the masses. I wonder what is the reason behind this bold move of propagation. Even Dr. Durrani who is also affilated with ISNA is not propagating ISNA/FC new calendar on his website. This is indeed strange. Can someone explain?"

Sunday 22 October 2006:

1. Nigeria (Claim of Sighting)

Monday 23 October 2006:

1. Saudi (After 30 days of Ramadan)
2. UAE (After 30 days of Ramadan)
3. Kuwait (After 30 days of Ramadan)
4. Bahrain (After 30 days of Ramadan)
5. Qatar (After 30 days of Ramadan)
6. Palestine (After 30 days of Ramadan)
7. Iraq (After 30 days of Ramadan)
8. Lebanon (After 30 days of Ramadan)
9. Libya (After 30 days of Ramadan)
10. Sudan (After 30 days of Ramadan)
11. Yemen (After 30 days of Ramadan)
12. Tunisia
13. Somalia
14. Djibouti
15. Senegal
16. Turkey (Astronomical Calculations)
17. Sweden (Astronomical Calculations)
18. Austria (Astronomical Calculations)
19. Ukrania (Astronomical Calculations)
20. Denmark (Astronomical Calculations)
21. Norway (Astronomical Calculations)
22. Czech (Astronomical Calculations)
23. Holland (Astronomical Calculations)
24. Italy (Astronomical Calculations)
25. France (Astronomical Calculations)
26. Belgium (Astronomical Calculations)
27. Australia (and on Tuesday)
28. UK (and on Tuesday)
29. Canada (and on Tuesday)
30. Guyana (and on Tuesday)
31. USA (ISNA and FCNA) (and on Tuesday)

Tuesday 24 October 2006:

1. Indonesia
2. Malaysia
3. Brunei Darussalam
4. Philippines
5. Sri Lanka
6. Iran
7. Oman
8. Jordan
9. Syria
10. Egypt
11. Algeria
12. Morocco
13. South Africa
14. Tanzania
15. Malawi
16. Spain
17. Germany
18. Australia (and on Monday)
19. UK (and on Monday)
20. Canada (and on Monday)
21. Guyana (and on Monday)
22. USA (The Majority of Masjids: Zaytuna Institute, all Masjids with Ulema Council, and all Masjids with Hilalsighting.org and many more etc) (and on Monday)

Wednesday 25 October 2006:

1. India
2. Pakistan

The geocentric conjunction (Geocentric New Moon) will occur Inshalla on (Sunday 22 October 2006) at 05:14 UT.

Saturday 21 October 2006:

• Iran: ICOP member Mohammad Zahed Aram tried to see the crescent by naked eyes and binoculars, but no crescent was seen, and the sky conditions were hazy.

• Kuwait: ICOP member Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: "In Kuwait on Sat 21 Oct 2006 I could not see the old crescent in the morning because of cloud on the eastern horizon even the Sun disc was unclear even after 10 minutes of the sunrise."

• Lebanon: ICOP member Dr. Ahmad Raad said: "Unfortunatly it was impossible to see the wanning crescent on Saturday morning since the eastern horizon was totally cloudy."

• Algeria: ICOP member Mr. Bankih Kacem said: "Sun rise : 06:51. Location: Beni Isguen (32:28N 03:41E). The Eastern horizon was hazy. Orientation of the crescent: 4-10. The crescent was seen only by binoculars (20x60 and 8x40) for one minute. First Observation: at 06:24 by binoculars (8x40). Last Observation: at 06:25 by binoculars (20x60 and 8x40). 07 persons was present in Bouamiyed. The crescent was seen only by binoculars."

• USA: ICOP member Mr. Jim Stamm said:

  Location = Tucson, Arizona (USA)
  Longitude = 110.68 W
  Latitude = 32.40 N
  Elevation = 2211 meters
  Time Zone = -7.0 hours
  

  Surface conditions at
  Tucson - Mount Lemmon (2725 m):
  Temperature = 7 degrees Celcius
  Relative Humidity = 47 percent
  Atmospheric Pressure = 1011 mb (sea level)
  

  Magnitude limit at 1 degrees altitutde with 55 power
  in C-8 telescope, before onset of twilight = 9.0

  Topocentric and local time values from “Accurate Times”:
  Moonrise (at sea level) = 05:54
  Sunrise (at sea level) = 06:23
  Time from new moon at 06:10 = 16 hr. 25 min.
  Moon lag time = 29 minutes
  Relative Altitude = 5.87 degrees
  Elongation from sun = 6.89 degrees
  Crescent width = 6 arcseconds
  Illumination = 0.36 percent
  

  I was NOT able to see the crescent, even through a telescope.

  I felt good about the potential of this sub seven degree observation. The zodiacal light spiked all the way up to Saturn, while Orionids sliced through it. Ninth magnitude stars were visible at the horizon. Then I accidently kicked the tripod leg of my telescope. I wasn’t positive that I had precisely re-aimed the scope (but at least to within a degree). However, the focus was confirmed by a subsequent passing star. I scanned within the window that the Moon would have been visible in, but only saw a few of those false images. There was noticeable water vapor haze in the lower atmosphere.