"Keep the fast after seeing the Hilal and complete the fast after seeing the Hilal (of Shawwal)."

Hadith of Prophet (SAW)

Presentation

QUR’AN REFERENCES

What The Qur'an says about the Crescent Moon as the standard to be used for the reckoning of time.

“It is He who made sun a lamp, and moon a light and measured stages so you know number of

years and count (of time).” (10:5)

QUR’AN REFERENCES

What The Qur'an says about the Crescent Moon as the standard to be used for the reckoning of time.

“Allah is He who raised heavens

without pillars that you can see; Then He established Himself on the throne; And He subjected the sun and the moon (to his law); each one runs its course for a term

appointed.” (13:2)

QUR’AN REFERENCES

What The Qur'an says about the Crescent Moon as the standard to be used for the reckoning of time.

“They ask you about new crescent moons, say they are to mark fixed

times for mankind and Hajj.” (2:189)

DIFFERENT VIEWS OF MARAJE

1. Unity of Horizon If the moon is sighted at a place, it

establishes the first of the month for all areas sharing the same night.

2. Multiplicity of Horizons If the moon is sighted at a place, it

establishes the first of the month for all areas sharing the same horizon.

Global Visibility Map for 19th September 2009 / Shawwal 1430

Multiplicity of Horizons

RULINGS

Q: When is the first of the month?

A: It is the day following the evening when you are reasonably certain of the

presence of the crescent on the horizon of the place where the Mukallaf resides, in a manner in which it is visible to the naked

eye.

ASTRONOMICALFACTS

The moon is not a light source.

It can be seen because it reflects sunlight.

A new crescent appears every 29 or 30 days, never fewer

or more.

ASTRONOMICAL FACTS

The Moon is circling the earth in a counter clockwise elliptical

orbit

This allows us to see the different phases of the moon.

ASTRONOMICAL FACTS

ASTRONOMICAL FACTS

The exact time when the moon passes between the center of the

earth and the center of the sun, called "conjunction" can be

precisely calculated, exactly as the moment of sunrise or sunset

can be determined precisely.

ASTRONOMICAL FACTS

This moment of time is also called "New Moon" and is a black

invisible moon, which will be in over 32 hours of disappearance.

CRESCENT SIGHTING CRITERIA

Based on data collected from late 1980s by the World Federation,

a criteria has been developed for calculating the likelihood of

crescent visibility.

This criteria has been continuously improved by the data

collected for crescent observation.

A very effective tool to calculate ahead of time, whether the

moon can be sighted.

CRITERION

ELONGATIONAfter the moon comes out of conjunction it takes some time for it to get away from the sun such that the crescent can be seen from the earth.

In 1931 the French Astronomer, André Danjon, suggested that scientifically it was not possible for the crescent to be seen when the angle of separation (elongation) is less than 7°, regardless of what the age of the crescent is and regardless of any favourable observing circumstances that may exist.

Our data suggests that this angle of separation (elongation) between the sun and the moon must be at least 9.7° for the crescent to be sighted with the naked eye.

ALTITUDE

At sunset the altitude of the moon above the horizon must be high enough above the glare of the sun for the crescent to be sighted.

A young crescent is usually sighted when the sun has dropped at least 5° below the horizon, which is about 20 minutes after sunset.

Therefore the moonset time has to be more than 20 minutes after the sunset time.

CRITERION

CRESCENT AGE

Our records show that with a naked eye, while no crescent can be seen before it is 16 hours old, it may still be up to 23 hours old, or more in certain seasons, before it is visible.

CRITERION

ELONGATION – More than 9.7˚

ALTITUDE – More than 5˚

CRESCENT AGE – More than 16 Hours.

COMMUNITY CRITERION

Global Visibility Map for 19th September 2009 / Shawwal 1430

Date of Astronomical Date of Astronomical New MoonNew Moon

Date of this Graph

Time of Astronomical Time of Astronomical New MoonNew Moon

Legend explaining the Legend explaining the Four Curves A B C & DFour Curves A B C & D

The Criterion used for plotting the Graphs

Programme created by

Prof. Manzur Ahmed

Legend explaining

the Crescent-age Colour Bands

Black area where

crescent is not visible even with Telescope

LAT/LONG of the place where the first sighting is

likely (with Telescope)

LAT/LONG of the most

easterly place of likely sighting

(with Telescope)

PROOF OF CRESCENT SIGHTING

When one personally sees it.

By certainty or conviction.

When TWO Aadil (righteous) male persons stand

witness to the fact that they saw the crescent.

When 30 days of a lunar month are completed.

AGHA’S RULING

“If the moon is sighted in the East, it also applies to the West as long as the latitude of the two locations are not greatly further away from one another”

AGHA’S RULING

“If the new moon is sighted in a city, it is sufficient for other cities, provided they share the same horizon, in the sense that the actual sighting in the first city would necessarily be followed with the sighting in the second city if there were no barriers like clouds, fog, mountains etc”

AGHA’S RULING

“If the moon is sighted in the East, it also applies to the West as long as the latitude of the two locations are not greatly further away from one another”

“If the new moon is sighted in a city, it is sufficient for other cities, provided they share the same horizon, in the sense that the actual sighting in the first city would necessarily be followed with the sighting in the second city if there were no barriers like clouds, fog, mountains etc”

AGHA’S RULING - SUMMARY

Can follow sighting in the East if:

1) Distinct Possibility of Sighting Exists in West ( i.e. in your own city)

2) Cities in East are not far apart on the latitude lines (i.e. follow the moon path which changes on monthly basis.)

COMMON QUESTIONS???

Q: (According to calculations by astronomers for the new crescent of Shawwal 1424, there is possibility of sighting in South Africa on Tuesday night.) This may result in differences between the followers of the Marja who believes in sharing the night principle and the one who does not. How do you suggest we resolve these differences?

A: There is no need to resolve the differences. Everyone has to act according to the rulings of his or her Marja.

COMMON QUESTIONS???

Q: Can we rely on predictions of Astronomers?

1741. The first day of a month will not be proved by the prediction made by the astronomers. However, if a person derives full satisfaction and certitude from their findings, he should act accordingly.

(From Taudheeul Masaael of Ayatullah Seestani)

COMMON QUESTIONS???

Q: If a crescent on the second night is high and large, is that an indication that we may have erred in the beginning of the month?

1742. * If the moon is high up in the sky, or sets late, it is not an indication that the previous night was the first night of the month. Similarly, if there is a halo round it, it is not a proof that the new moon appeared in the previous night. (From Taudheeul Masaael of Ayatullah Seestani)

COMMON QUESTIONS???

Q: What about confirmed reports of sighting to the Eastern areas of our locality?

1744. * If the first day of a month is proved in a city, it is also proved in other cities if they are united in their horizon. And the meaning of having a common horizon in this matter is that if new moon was sighted in a city, there would be a distinct possibility of sighting it in the other cities, if there were no impediments, like, the clouds etc. (From Taudheeul Masaael of Ayatullah Seestani)

COMMON QUESTIONS???

Q: Is the declaration of a Mujtahid binding on his followers?

1740. The 1st day of any month will not be proved by the verdict of a Mujtahed and it is better to observe precaution.

(From Taudheeul Masaael of Ayatullah Seestani)

RULING

Question Ruling #1) In your esteemed opinion, the

expressions like “man shahida minkum…” in the Qur’ãn or “sum li ’r-ru’ya…” in hadīth has mawdū‘iyyat or tarīqiyyat for the beginning of the Islamic month?

ANSWERSighting has been taken as a ‘tariqiyyah’ – means to ascertain the manifestation of the crescent in the horizon such that it can be sighted with the naked eye, if there were no impediments like clouds, etc. If another method – other than sighting – could be used to ascertain the presence of the Crescent in the manner specified, it would suffice.

RULING

The Report of Sighting on 31st August 2008 in DetroIt

“Some respected mu’mineen of Detroit (including a member of the CrescentCommittee) acquired information from an observatory in Michigan about the possibilityof sighting the crescent in Detroit and were told that there was a very weak possibility of

sighting the crescent in that area.Nonetheless, they decided to go for moon sighting so that, at the least, they could

report that they went out to look for the crescent but didn’t see it. S. Haider Bahar al-Uloom used various computer soft wares to find the exact location of the sun and the

moon at sunset in Detroit. Then they went to the 7th floor of a building which had a goodview towards the sunset direction.

Between 7:48 and 7:52, the crescent was sighted first by Br. Aws Asfar, then by SyedBaqir al-Kashmiri and then by Sayyid Haider Bahar al-Uloom. They were initially

surprised to see what they were not expecting. So they turned away and then again settheir eyes towards that direction. Again Br. Aws saw it four times, S. al-Kashmiri saw it

three times and S. Bahar al-Uloom saw it once more. Then they all three drew what theyhad soon on papers and compared their sketches with one another. This is how they

became sure of having seen the crescent.”

Detroit

DETROIT 42:24N 83:01W TZ:-5.0 Ht:0m JD:2454709.5 Topo Refrac ON Mag Dec: -7.578 -7d 34m 42s approx Date:

Sun 31 Aug 2008 Delta T (TD-UT): 0h 01m 14s approx Time: 19h

48m 00s*LTApparent Sunrise: 6h 56m 35s*LT Apparent Sunset: 20h

07m 01s*LT ──────────────1 of 4 ─────────────────── Moon Alt: 5.194 5d 11m 39s Moon Azi: 264.306 264d

18m 22s Moon Dec: -0.786 -0d 47m 10s Moon RA: 11.471 11h

28m 15s Sun Alt: 2.855 2d 51m 17s Sun Azi: 278.749

278d 44m 55s Sun Dec: 8.224 8d 13m 25s Sun RA: 10.702 10h

42m 06s Rel Alt: 2.339 2d 20m 22s Rel Azi: -14.443 -14d

26m 33s Elongation: 14.611 14d 36m 39s Moon Age: 27.83h 1D

3H 50M Phase:0.0166 Mag: -5.46 Width:0.51m Semi-Diam:0.261

Distance:382829.10km ─────────────────────Moon Rise: 7h 49m 01s*LT Azimuth: 86d

06m 18s Moon Set: 20h 20m 13s*LT Azimuth: 269d

31m 26s Sunrise-Moonrise: 0h 52m 26s Sunset-Moonset: 0h

13m 12s ───────────────────── New Moon: 30 Aug 2008 JDE: 2454709.3328

19h 59m 10s TD Full Moon: 15 Sep 2008 JDE: 2454724.8851 9h 14m 33s TD Perigee: 26 Aug 2008 JDE: 2454704.6565 3h 45m 20s TD Apogee: 7 Sep 2008 JDE: 2454717.1242

14h 58m 53s TD

BIRMINGHAM 52:30N 1:55W TZ:0.0 Ht:236m JD:2455094.5 Topo Refrac ON Mag Dec: -2.639 -2d 38m 21s approx Date: Sun 20 Sep 2009Delta T (TD-UT): 0h 01m 15s approx Time: 18h 30m 00s*LT

Apparent Sunrise: 6h 47m 02s*LT Apparent Sunset: 19h 14m 00s*LT ──────────────1 of 4─────────────

Moon Alt: 5.024 5d 01m 27s Moon Azi: 238.153 238d 09m 11sMoon Dec: -14.639 -14d 38m 21s Moon RA: 13.286 13h 17m 11s

Sun Alt: 5.516 5d 30m 56s Sun Azi: 264.355 264d 21m 20s Sun Dec: 0.839 0d 50m 21s Sun RA: 11.871 11h 52m 14s Rel Alt: -0.492 -0d 29m 30s Rel Azi: -26.202 -26d 12m 08s

Elongation: 26.101 26d 06m 02s Moon Age: 46.74h 1D 22H 45M Phase:0.0511 Mag: -6.49 Width:1.62m Semi-Diam:0.265 Distance:376633.72km

───────────────────────────────────────────────Moon Rise: 9h 09m 35s*LT Azimuth: 109d 00m 14s

Moon Set: 19h 16m 20s*LT Azimuth: 247d 05m 59sSunrise-Moonrise: 2h 22m 33s Sunset-Moonset: 0h 02m 20s

──────────────────────────────────New Moon: 18 Sep 2009 JDE: 2455093.2815 18h 45m 26s TDFull Moon: 4 Oct 2009 JDE: 2455108.7578 6h 11m 16s TDPerigee: 16 Sep 2009 JDE: 2455090.8309 7h 56m 31s TDApogee: 28 Sep 2009 JDE: 2455102.6485 3h 33m 53s TD

CRESCENTDETROIT USA

31ST August 200819:48 pm

BIRMINGHAM UK20th September

200918:30 pm

AGE 27.83 Hours 46.74 Hours

ALTITUDE 5.19 Degrees 5.02 Degrees

ELONGATION 14.61 Degrees 26.01 Degrees

ILLUMINATED 0.0 % 2.0 %

BEFORE MOONSET 32 Minutes 46 Minutes

BEFORE SUNSET 19 Minutes 44 Minutes

Yallop’s response last yearPortsmouth, UK, on Wednesday 1 October 2008 the lag time will be 13minutes and q = +0.044 B, so the crescent moon will be visible on that day.At best time, q = + 0.061 B.)A team will be at a vantage point on Portisdown, and assuming idealconditions, we are considering the following:1) Before the sunset: the crescent will be over 57 hours old with an elongationof over 28 degrees.

2) At sunset: this will be at 18:33 when the moon will be 1.3 degrees above the horizon.

3) At 'best time': this will be at 18:39 when the moon altitude will be 0.6 degrees above the horizon.

4) When the sun is 5 degrees below the horizon: sighting will not be possible asthis will occur at 19;00 when the moon will have already set.

In your experience what are our chances of successfully seeing the crescentBy naked eye?

Response from Yallop:

“With a moon of that age I would expect that you could see it in broad daylight, not just twilight.Certainly I would expect it to be visible with binoculars by that time. Itis not easy to spot, but once you have seen it you would wonder how youcould have missed it. When my grandchildren were very young and I waspushing them around in a push chair, they would often spot it and tell me.”

This year, we again asked both experts as to the possibility of sighting the moon before sunset on Sunday 20 September 2009. Their responses were not adequate to determine whether the crescent could be sighted before sunset. The replies of both of the experts are pasted below:

Mohammad Shawkat Odeh. Islamic Crescents' Observation Project (ICOP when presented with the scenario for this year “Where as for Shawwal, according to my experience, I believe the crescent can be seen about 15 minutes before sunset by optical aid, but I doubt that it could be seen by naked eye.”

Response from Professor Yallop:“You know and I know that you cannot say anything for certain when it comes to making an observation with the unaided eye in the worst part of the sky down by the horizon close to the sun.”

RULING

RULING

Question Ruling #1) In your esteemed opinion, the

expressions like “man shahida minkum…” in the Qur’ãn or “sum li ’r-ru’ya…” in hadīth has mawdū‘iyyat or tarīqiyyat for the beginning of the Islamic month?

ANSWERSighting has been taken as a ‘tariqiyyah’ – means to ascertain the manifestation of the crescent in the horizon such that it can be sighted with the naked eye, if there were no impediments like clouds, etc. If another method – other than sighting – could be used to ascertain the presence of the Crescent in the manner specified, it would suffice.