No visibility expected anywhere, except by binoculars/telescope in Polynesian Islands. No positive sighting reports expected.

Maulana Sultan Alam (MCW member) Karachi Pakistan reported: Not Seen
It was certain that the crescent would not be sighted anywhere in Pakistan tonight because moonset was 10 - 15 minutes before sunset, all over Pakistan. In the western-most areas of Pakistan (Jiwani e.g.) the age of the crescent was hardly 50 minutes at the time of sunset while in the north-eastern areas, the birth of the crescent took place after the sunset. In spite of these facts, to increase the trust of common people in the Science of Moon-sighting and because the people were confused due to the 29th day in Saudi Arabia, I requested many members of the moon-sighting committees of our institute "JAMIA-TUR-RASHEED" and many of my friends all over Pakistan to sight the moon but the moon could not be sighted, as it was expected tonight. Our members have tried to sight the crescent moon at these places: Karachi (6 places ), Aasiabad, Turbat, Panjgor, Gawadar, Meer-pur-mathelo, Lahore, Tando-Allah-yar, Hango, Dera-Ismaeel-Khan, Texila, Abbotabad, Multan, Islamabad, Charsaddah

Dr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim (MCW member) Cape Town, S. Africa reported: Not Seen
The crescent was not seen [telescope/binoculars/naked-eye] in Cape Town this Saturday evening [27/12/2008 and the end of the 29th day of Dhul Hijjah 1429 AH]. The month of Dhul Hijjah will be extended to a 30 day duration as per the Prophetic statement. Negative results from all parts of Southern Africa in respect of this evening�s Hilaal sighting. The official first day of Muharrum 1430 AH in Southern Africa will correspond to Monday, 29 December 2008.

Rashid Motala (MCW member) Durban S. Africa reported: Not Seen
The Hilaal for Muharram was not sighted this evening in S. Africa. Monday will be the 1st.

Aziz Raje (MCW member) Ilford UK reported: Not Seen
It was mostly overcast in the UK and so there are no reported sighting news from anywhere. We have not received reliable news of actual Sighting (Muhaqqaq Ru'yat e Basri) of Hilal from anywhere else in the world either. Alhamdollilah, the Wifaqululama have therefore announced that we will complete 30 days of Dhul Hijjah and the 1st of Muharram 1430 (Islamic news Year) in the United Kingdom will commence from Monday 29th December 2008 Insha Allah.

Abdul Jalil Rayhan (MCW member) Cotabato Philippines reported: Not Seen
Crescent moon not seen in Cotabato City, Philippines. Weather condition was cloudy from 5pm (Local Time) until this report (8pm).

December 28, 2008 (Sunday):

Engr Manzoor A Mian (MCW member) Melbourne Australia reported: Not Seen
We did Crescent sighting Sunday 28th December 2008 in Melbourne and other part of Victoria state. Moon was not sighted anywhere in Melbourne and other part of Victoria-Australia. It was also reported that crescent was not sighted any part of Australia therefore the 1st of Muharram will be on 30th December Tuesday InshaAllah in Australia.

Gulam Qutbuddin Siddiqui on behalf of Dr. Shabbir Ahmed (MCW member) Imam of Rooty Hill Mosque Sydney Australia reported: Not Seen
Dr Shabbir Ahmed, Imam Rooty Hill Mosque Sydney, is expected to return Sydney on Wednesday 31 December 2008, after performing Hajj this year. I wish to inform you that the Hilal was NOT sighted anywhere in Australia on Sunday the 28th. December 2008/29th. DhulHajj 1429 AH. As a consequence of which the month of Muharram 1430 AH commences here on Tuesday 30th December.

Ahmad I. Adjie (MCW member) Bandung Indonesia reported: Seen
Hilal was SEEN on sunday, 28 december 2008. Location of sighting was Pasir Putih beach, Watu Karung, East Java. Myself and a few others have sighted the hilal through patches of clouds. The clouds were thin and relatively slow-moving but the moon crescent was seen anyway, Alhamdulillah! Therefore, for those in and around indonesia who follow the moonsighting by maghrib way in determining dates, the 1st of Muharram will be on 29th december 2008, making Dzulhijjah 29 days.

AR Sugeng Riyadi (MCW member) Surakarta, Java Indonesia reported: Not Seen
On Sunday 28 Dec 2008, the New Crescent of Muharram 1430 AH was NOT SEEN from my location: Bendo Ketitang Juwiring Klaten INDONESIA (7� 41' 39.17" S,110� 44' 20.64" E, GMT+7, 98 m). Western horizon was totally cloudy.

ABM Ruhul Hassan (MCW member) Dhaka Bangladesh reported: Not Seen
Ruia'ti Hilal Majlis and Islamic Foundation both have announced that the crescent of Muharram-ul-Haram is not sighted in Bangladesh on 28th December; Sunday. The sky was foggy as well as cloudy. First day of Muharram will start from Tuesday, 30th December.

Nular Bary (MCW member) Colombo, Sri Lanka reported: Not Seen
Today 28/12/2008 (29/12/1429H) I tried to sight the crescent just after sunset the western horizon was cloudy I couldn't sight the moon even with a bionacular and no where from the Island reported seen up to now 9.30pm so our Hilal committee decided to complete Dhul Haj by 30 day & muharam 1430h will start from Tuesday 30/12/2008 Insha Allah.

Dr. Khaja Muzaffaruddin, Retired Prof OU, Hyderabad, India reported: Not Seen
The crescent moon(chand) was not sighted in Hyderabad,AP,India yesterday.i.e Sunday the 28th December 2008. Hence Muharram 1430 will start from 30th December(Tuesday),2008 for all the muslims of state irrespective of their caste and belief.

Mohammed Mohsin Khan (MCW member) Mumbai, India reported: Not Seen
Today Sunday 28 Dec 2008 / 29 Zil Hijjah 1429 in India. Here in Mumbai Sunset was at 06:10 pm IST and Moonset was at 06:54 pm IST. so there was 44 mins difference, Moon Age was 24 hrs, 30 mins and Sky was clear but Crescent has not been sighted in Mumbai and in Most Parts of India. Official Moon-Sighting Committee of Mumbai have officially announced that Monday 29 December 2008 is the 30th Zilhijjah and 1st Muharram 1430 will fall on Tuesday 30 December 2008.

Khalid Umer (MCW member) Surat, India reported: Not Seen
Moon not sighted in surat India on Sunday hence first Muharram on Tuesday 30th Dec 2008.

Iqbalhusen Bokda (MCW member) Gujrat, India reported: Not Seen
Crescent for Muharram has not been sighted here in in any part of Gujarat(India) today on 28th December.

Maulana Sultan Alam (MCW member) Karachi Pakistan reported: Not Seen
Today, Dec 28, I also requested many members of the moon-sighting committees of our institute "JAMIA-TUR-RASHEED" and many of my friends all over Pakistan to sight the moon but the moon could not be sighted. Generally the weather was cloudy and hazy but it was clear at some places. Our members with hundreds people have tried to sight the crescent moon at these places: Karachi (13 places), Lahore, Multan, Charsaddah (2 places), Lawrencepur, Meer-pur-mathelo, Kahror pakka, Battal, Abotabad, Gawadar, Aasiabad (3 places), Turbat, Panjgor, Qalat.
Note 1: Chairman of central official moon-sighting committee of Pakistan "Mufti Munee-bur-Rahman" told me on my mobile phone that because he did not receive any positive report of moon sighting from all over Pakistan, therefore he has officially announced that Monday 29 December 2008 is the 30th Zulhijjah and 1st Muharram 1430 will fall on Tuesday 30 December 2008.

Hussain Khushaish (MCW member) Kuwait reported: Not Seen
In Kuwait on Sunday 28 Dec 2008, T Kabad desert our team of sighting could not see the crescent even with 8" telescope.The team included Hussain Khushaish, Dr Hussain Dashti, Dr Mohammed Ali Al Saiagh, Dr Hamza Al Shawaf, Mohammed Abbas And Ali Abu Fatma. The western horizon was partly cloudy and hazy. Jupiter was seen clearly at sunset with the telescope and later with naked eyes but Mercury was not seen at all.

Alireza Mehrani (MCW member) Esfahan Iran reported: Seen
On Dec 28, Observer & photographer: Alireza Mehrani
Participants: Mrs. Mir Shamshirgaran, Miss. Saalehi, Miss. Ahmadzadeh, Mrs. Moradi, Mr. Moradi, Mr. Fakhkhar, Mr. Mansouri
Crescent first observation through naked eyes by Mrs. Mir Shamshirgaran: Time: 17:36 (14:06 UT)
Crescent last observation through 20x90 binoculars by Mrs. Mir Shamshirgaran at Time: 17:46

Goolam Tegally (MCW member) Port Louis Mauritius reported: Seen
Hilal was sighted this evening Sunday 28 Dec 2008 here in Mauritius despite partly cloudy sky. 1st Muharram 1430 will be Monday 29 Dec 2008.

Mahmood Essa (MCW member) Mombasa Kenya reported: 30 days completed
Despite the sky being relatively free of cloud cover, we were unable to see the new crescent, on sunday evening of 28/12/08. However, we have completed 30 days, so the first day of Muharram here in Kenya is Monday 29/12/08.

Yusuf M. Lambat (MCW member) Blantyre, Malawi reported: Not Seen
No sighting reported in Malawi.

Hamza Rijaal (MCW member) Island of Zanzibar Tanzania reported: Seen
Muharram moon has been sighted in tiny Island of Zanzibar on Sunday 28 December 2008 and Zanzibar will, Insha-Allah, have First Muharram on Monday 29 December 2008.

Ahmad Abu Zaid (MCW member) Amman Jordan reported: Not Seen
On Dec 28, It was hard to see Crescent because of Israeli air strikes on Palestine, which killed innocent people and air polluted by smoke. Visibility very difficult at dusk

Sheik A.A. Ishola (MCW member) Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria reported: Not Seen
I and Alhaji Bello tried to observe the crescent of muharram after Maghrib today 28-12-08 infront of our mosque with our naked eye but could not see due to hazyness. However, northern state declare today as 1st of muharram.

Imam Majolagbe Monsuru (MCW member) Lagos Nigeria reported: Not Seen
I and my jama't attempted crescent sighting on yaomul Ahad -Sunday 28 12 2008 by maghrib time till 7:35pm in Ikorodu town but we couldn't see it. Sky was hazy.

Samy Khadem-Al-Charieh (MCW member) Berlin reported: Not Seen
On Dec 28, My wife and I were at the Alster lake in Hamburg and looking for the crescent from 16:00 till 16:40. The sky was fairly clear but we could not see the crescent!

Muhammad Sohail (MCW member) Iquique Chile reported: 30 days completed
As we have completed 30 days of Dhul Hajja on 28/12/2008, so Monday 29/12/2008 we have 1st of Muharram.

Imam Salim Chishti (MCW member) New Lebanon, NY reported: Not Seen
The crescent was not seen this evening, December 28, 2008 in New Lebanon, NY USA. There was a total overcast and no clear sky was visible at all.

Mohamedraza H.Janmohamed (MCW member) Sanford Florida reported: Seen
New Moon was sighted in Orlando as well, on Sunday, December 28. 2008 � Dhulhijjah 29 And therefore the FIRST DAY of Muharram 1430 AH is established as MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2008 As slam-o-alaikum

Mohammad Irfan from Orland FL reported: Seen
I have seen the muharram crescent on Sunday 28th Dec 2008 after Maghreb around 6;00 pm eastern time, Happy new year.

Javad Torabinejad (MCW member) Blacksburg Virginia reported: Not Seen
This evening (Sunday, December 28, 2008), using a pair of binoculars (7X50), I tried sighting the crescent moon of the month of Muharram with no success. The western horizon was mostly cloudy. I tried several locations in the town of Blacksburg, VA, looking for the crescent in small clear patches from the time of sunset (5:12) to the time of moonset (6:16).

Ms. Lyana Snow (MCW member) San Antonio Texas reported: Seen
On Sunday, December 28, at 6:08pm I saw the hilal for the month of Muharram in San Antonio, TX. At 6:20pm, my husband and a few other members of our community came and also saw it.

Azam Baporia (MCW member) San Francisco California reported: Seen
I saw the Muharram crescent on Sunday 28th Dec 2008 after Maghrib around 5:30 pm pacific time in Mill Valley, CA (San Francisco Bay Area).

Milad Ali Ershaghi (MCW member) from near Claremont California reported: Seen
On Dec 28, Sunday, after praying Salat-ul-Maghrib, my mother called me to see the new moon from the balcony of our home. We saw the moon from 5:35pm to 5:45pm at coordinates of 33 deg 46 min 27 sec N latitude and 118 deg 24 min 47 sec W longitude. The moon was visible at an azimuth of 230 degrees relative to magnetic north, with elbows at approximately 2PM and 7PM and was above and slightly to the left of a small island in the Pacific Ocean to the east of Catalina. Masha'Allah it was a beautiful sight and beautiful way to welcome in the new lunar year.

Nular Bary (MCW member) Colombo, Sri Lanka reported: Seen
Today 29/12/2008 (30 Dhulhaj 1429H) I was able to sight the Muharam 1430H first moon very clearly MASHA ALLAH. It appeared at about 06.20pm, and lasted for about 20 minutes; local sunset time was 6:04 pm.

Mohammed Mohsin Khan (MCW member) Mumbai, India reported: Seen
Today, Monday, 29 Dec 2008 / 30 Zilhijjah 1429, Muharram 1430 Crescent has been > Sighted in Mumbai and in Most Parts of India. I myself have seen the Crescent. It was easily visible with naked eyes.

Samy Khadem-Al-Charieh (MCW member) Berlin reported: Seen
On Dec 29, I saw the crescent easily from inside the city while heading for my car in a break between the city buildings. The sky was nice clear and it was about 16:45.

Islamic Council of Norway have offically declared 01.01.1430 hijri to be on Monday, December 29, 2008.

Saudi Arabia initially declared Muharram 1, 1430 hijri to be on Monday, December 29, 2008. Later the Official Announcement changed the date and declared Muharram 1, 1430 hijri to be on Sunday, December 28, 2008, such that Muharram 10 is on Januray 6 (Tuesday).

India, Pakistan and Bangladesh offically declared Muharram 1, 1430 hijri to be on Tuesday, December 30, 2008.

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