Moonsighting for Dhul-Hijjah 1427

I am currently in Riyadh. Yesterday - Wednesday, Dec 20 evening I went with the official Riyadh Moon sighting committee. Of course there was no chance of Hilal anywhere here and the 6 Official Hilal sighting committees of Saudi Arabia (near near Makkah, Riyadh, Qassim, Hail, Tabuk and Asir), each of which includes an Islamic Scholar, an Astronomer, a City council representative and volunteers) all reported negative sighting, as expected. Even the Moonset was before Sunset in Saudi and that is why even the Ummul Qura Calendar also put DhulHijja start for Friday, Dec. 22 and Eid ul Adha for Dec. 31, 2006.

But unfortunately, as is often the case, Saudi Justice Dept. has announced start of Dhul-Hijja incorrectly for Thursday, Dec 21; Hajj on Dec 29, and Eid-al-Adha on Dec 30. Also I met the Br. Hamza Al-Muzani (Saudi writer) who had written in Saudi "Al-Watan" Newspaper of Thursday, 10 DhulHijja 1425 AH in the article "Testimonies of the Impossible" (Click here) that last year Eid ul Adha witnesses were found to be over 80 years old. I found that after writing that article they put a false charge on the author of making fun of the beard of the Chief Justice and sentenced him to 4 months in prison and 200 lashes! Then Alhamdulillaah Saudi King Abdullah quashed the sentence! Also, this year the false start of Ramadan and Eidul Fitr was due the well known early witness: AlKhudayri from Huta Sudayr, Saudi Arabia! He is also one of the claimants this time for DhulHijja start.

Muhammad Hafiz (MCW member) from Guyana: Not Seen
Due to rainy clouds on the horizon on both the 20th and 21st of December, 2006, Hilall observation was made impossible. Hence, the first day of Zul Hijjah in Guyana is Friday, 22nd December, 2006. Eid Ul Adha will be celebrated on Sunday, 31st December, 2006.

GULAM QUTBUDDIN SIDDIQUI (for Dr. Shabbir Ahmed MCW member and Imam of Rooty Hill Mosque), Sydney, Australia: Seen
Dr Shabbir Ahmed, Imam of Rooty Hill Mosque, Sydney, has gone for Hajj this year. As advised by him I wish to inform you that the Hilal was sighted yesterday, 29th Dhulqadah 1427 AH by two very reliable groups, in the capital city of PERTH, Western Australia. The sighting of the Hilal in many Australian capital cities including Sydney was not possible because of cloudy and rainy weather conditions. On the basis of the above information regarding moonsighting, the month of Dhul Hajj 1427 AH commenced here on Friday 22nd December 2006 and as a consequence of which Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated here on Sunday 31st December 2006 Inshallah.

K.A.M.Azizul Huq (MCW member) from Dhaka, Bangladesh: Not Seen
On Thursday 21st December,2006, the new crescent of Dhul Hijah, 1427 was not visible from Dhaka with binoculars, although the sky was cloudless, mixed with ash and red colour at horizon. Moon Observation Committee of Bangladesh Govt. declared that moon was not visible anywhere in Bangladesh on 21-12-2006. The committee declared 1st of January 2007 as day of Eidul Adha in Bangladesh.

Khalid Maniar from Surat, India : Not Seen
The moon could not be seen on Thursday 21st Dec, but was easily sighted on Friday. Strangely, Saudi authorities have declared moon was sighted on Wednesday and Arafah will be Friday. How is it possible? In Makkah on Wednesday 20th Dec, moonset was at 1730 and sunset at 1745.

Shahid Iqbal (MCW member) from Swabi, Pakistan: Not Seen
On Dec 21, Dhul-Hijjah moon was not sighted here despite use of optical aid local sunset at 5:08 pm (12:08 pm UTC). Sunset-moonset lag was 33. Moon altitutde was 4.0 against the relative azimuth of -10.6. Right ascension was 18.8. Moon age: 22.13, Elongation:11.13, Luminosity: 1.1%, Magnitude: -5.21, Width: 0.33m, Best time was 5:33 LT. Due to low altitude and humid and polluted condtions, there are very slight chances of sighting only at Karachi, Gawadar, Pasni, Jiwani and surrounding coastal areas. First of Dul-Hijjah is therefore expected on Saturday, 23 December 2006 (Eid-ul-Adha being on Monday, January 1, 2007).

According to "Ittihad-i-Mutaali" (Unity of Horizons), as adopted by OIC Fiqha Council and ISNA, First of the month for Pakistan and eastern countries will be Friday, 22 December 2006 (Eid-ul-Adha on Sunday, 31 December).

Fahim Hashmi (MCW member) from Islamabad: Not Seen
Pakistan: The moon of Zil Hajj has not been sighted across the country today (Thursday) Dec 21; accordingly, the first date of Zil Hajj would be on December 23. The Eidul Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) would be celebrated on January 1st.

AliReza Mehrani (MCW member) from Esfahan, Iran: Seen
Date: THU December 21, 2006; Location: Esfahan, Iran (32:37N 51:35E). The western horizon was hazy & partly cloudy; Sunset was at 16:57(LT). The first crescent observation by 15x80 binoculars: at 17:16 (LT). Crescent Arc Length: 105 (2-5.5). The Last crescent observation by 15x80 binoculars: at 17:25 (LT).

Hussain Khushaish (MCW member) from Kuwait: Seen
In Kuwait on at Kabad desert, on Thursday, 21 Dec 2006 , I could sight the crescent only with 20*60 binoculars. The order of the events was as follows: sun diappeared behind a non leveled western horizon at 16:54, local sunset at 16:55.
Tthe crescent first seen with binocular at 17:03 (that's 8 minutes after sunset).
The crescent last seen with binocular almost touching the horizon at 17:32; local moonset at 17:35.
The western horizon was very clear since we had 2-3 days of rain then 2 days of cold north wind .Vinus was a very good indicator to the location of the crescent (4.5 degrees to the lower left side of vinus -i.e 3 fingers -). Moon data at sunset topo age 22h:19m lag 40 min alt 6:01 deg width 23 arc sec ill 1.21% elongation 12:36 deg. also I saw the waning crescent on Tuesday morning with naked eyes of course with the help of Jupiter and Mars.

Goolam Tegally from Port Louis, Mauritius: Seen
On Thursday 21 December 2006, crescent moon was visible here in Port Louis, Mauritius with 10 X binoculars ONLY. Sky was very cloudy, even the setting sun was not visible. I observed the crescent at 18:58 (GMT + 4) , and it gradually went into the clouds at 19:02. I very much doubt that the local Muslim authorities will agree to accept this sighting as they had once in the past refused sighting with binoculars. There have not been any naked eye reports of Hilal sighting in Mauritius. Some people have seen Venus, but have been unable to see the crescent. Sky was too cloudy. Hence we will be celebrating Eid on Monday 1st January 2007.

Bankih Kacem, (MCW member) from Beni Isguen, Ghardaļa, Algeria: Seen
On Thursday, Dec 21, the new crescent of Dul Hija 1427 was seen, from Merkich station, by 14 persons using 4 different binoculars (20x60, 07x50, 08x40 and 20x50) first at 17:52, and later at 18:07 by only 4 persons using naked eyes.

Muhammed Yasin Qamardeen (MCW member - www.crescent-hosting.net) from Abuja, Nigeria: Not Seen
Negative sighting! Date of Observation: Thursday 21 2006; Time of Sun Set: 18:10; Location: Central Bussiness Distict Area, Abuja Federal Capital Nigeria. Perharps due to dusty sky here at Central Area, Abuja (FCT) Nigeria, the new hilal of Dhul Hijjah is not visible. However after Dhul Qa'dah runs to thirty days the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affdairs (NSCIA) commence the new month of Dhul Hijjah on Thursday 21 Dec 2006 and celebrate Eidul Adha on December 30 Saturday, 2006.

Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti (MCW member) from Oxford, UK: Not Seen
Negative sighting on Dec 21. I am travelling and therefore not able to perform the obligatory sighting in Oxford, but I have received reports that no sighting was possible in the UK due to the thick fog and poor atmospheric conditions on Wednesday as well as Thursday.

I can report negative sightings in Indonesia and Malaysia on Wednesday, 20 December and the authorities there have declared Friday, 22 December, to be the first of Dhu l-Hijja. In addition, there were positive sightings in Morocco today (Thursday, 21 December), which is in the sighting zone [matla'] that can be relied upon for those in the UK, and the authority there has declared Dhu l-Hijja to begin tomorrow, Friday. This news, even if it is not physically possible to sight tonight in the UK itself, is sufficient for those in the UK to establish the new month [thubut al-hilal] of Dhu l-Hijja to be tomorrow. Consequently, 'Id al-Adha or the 10th of Dhu l-Hijja, in the UK as in Morocco, should be on Sunday, 31st December 2006. May the 10 days of Dhul-Hijja and its 'Id be blessed, and may Allah's mercy descend upon this Ummah!

Mohamed-Umer Esmail (Imam NAMCC) from Austin, TX, USA: Seen
I along with around 8 other brothers and one sister have sighted the crescent here in Austin, Texas about 10 minutes after maghrib on Thurs Dec 21, 2006.

Clay Chip Smith (MCW member) from Austin, Texas: Seen
On Dec 21, 9 Brothers and 1 sister observed the Dhul Hijjah Crescent from the campus of the North Austin Muslim Community Center. First sighting was at 6:02 (28 minutes after sunset) when the moon lowered from behind a cloud. The horns were at 3 and 6 o'clock and the thickness was fat for a first day moon, but not too fat to be a second day moon. Observations were by eye (nothing but glasses for a few). The Hilal remained visible till it set behind the trees by about 6:15.

Abdul Sattar Ridhan (MCW member) from San Jose, California: Seen in Texas
Dhul Hijja Moon has been sighted by two group On Thursday December 21, 2006: One in Plano Texas by 3 persons (Mufti Ahmadul Qadri 2) Moulana Riaz & 3) Br. Altaf) at 5:45 PM; and the other from Arlington Texas 2 Persons ( Moulana Gulam Subhani and Br. Amir Arian) at 5:47-5:50 PM

Paul Burnham (MCW member) from Chino Valley, Arizona: Seen
I am pleased to report that the crescent moon was sighted from Chino Valley, Arizona this 21st of December. Initial sighting was with binoculars at 1727 MST and it was tracked behind and clear of cloud strands until 1739 MST when it came clear of clouds and could be seen visually. It then disappeared behind a solid cloud layer at 1742 MST.

Dr. Youssef Ismail (MCW member), Windy Hill, San Francisco, California: Seen in San Diego
I had gone out to look for the hilal on Thursday Dec. 21. I did, but it was raining heavily all afternoon on that day and the west was completely socked in. Another group that coordinates with us down in San Diego California, a group of three Muslim men did see it very clearly.

K.A.M.Azizul Huq (MCW member) from Dhaka, Bangladesh: Seen
On Friday 22nd December,2006, the new crescent of Dhul Hijah, 1427 was visible from Dhaka by naked eyes at about 5-35pm, seen after Magrib prayer, though the it was not visible up to 5-20pm. The horizon had long thin line of cloud, mixed with ash and red colour. Three other persons saw the Moon.It was bright and remained in sky while I left the roof of 14 storied building at 5-55pm. I used binoculars to see the sharpness of the Moon.

Dhul-Hijjah 1427

Sighting Reports for Dhul-Hijjah 1427

OFFICIAL Day of Eid-al-Adha in Different Countries